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Dubai Announces DIFC–Dubai Mall as First Loop Route

Dubai announces first two locations of its underground Dubai Loop transport system.

  • Publish date: since hour Reading time: two min read
Dubai Announces DIFC–Dubai Mall as First Loop Route

Dubai is officially going underground — in a cool, futuristic way.

The city has announced the first two locations of the Dubai Loop, a new high-speed underground transport system that promises to slash travel time between busy hotspots. Phase one will connect DIFC and Dubai Mall, with construction starting soon and a total project cost of Dh2.5 billion.

Dubai Becomes Second City After Las Vegas

The announcement was made by Matar Al Tayer, Director General of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), during the World Government Summit.

Dubai is now the second city in the world, after Las Vegas, to adopt this tunnel-based transport system — often described online as “Teslas in tunnels.”

What the Dubai Loop Is All About

The Dubai Loop is an underground network of one-way tunnels designed to move people fast between major residential, business, and tourist areas.

Think quick point-to-point trips, minimal stops, and smooth first-mile to last-mile travel. Stations will be both above and below ground, keeping access easy.

Phase One: DIFC to Dubai Mall in Three Minutes

The first phase covers 6.4 kilometres and includes four stations between DIFC and Dubai Mall. According to RTA, the ride will take just three minutes, down from the usual 20-minute drive.

Once running, around 100 vehicles will operate inside the tunnels, carrying up to 13,000 passengers a day.

Bigger Network Coming Next

When fully completed, the Dubai Loop will span 24 kilometres with 19 stations across the city.

RTA has partnered with The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, to deliver the project. Construction for the first phase is expected to take one to two years, with future phases possibly starting earlier if progress goes smoothly.

Why RTA Says It’s Worth It

RTA highlighted that this tunnelling method is faster and cheaper than traditional ones. Excavation costs average Dh70 million per kilometre, compared to Dh125 million using older techniques.

As for fares, pricing hasn’t been announced yet — but RTA says it will be competitive with other transport options serving the same areas.

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