'Top-Tier City': How People Reacted To Sheikh Hamdan, Elon Musk Tweets About Dubai Loop

2026-02-04 02:50:14

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Dh2.5-billion project, set to be completed within a year or two, is the brainchild of Elon Musk's 'The Boring Company', and is being implemented with the RTA

PUBLISHED: Wed 4 Feb 2026, 2:30 PM UPDATED: Wed 4 Feb 2026, 2:33 PM

By:
Laraib Anwer

As the Dubai Loop prepares to begin phase one of construction, the "wormhole"-like underground transit system that will connect 20,000 passengers per hour is making the emirate the second city in the world to adopt it.

The Dh2.5-billion project, set to be completed within a year or two, is the brainchild of Elon Musk's 'The Boring Company', and is being implemented in the city with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

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On February 3, the day the first two stations were revealed, Musk and Dubai's Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum - two pioneers in their fields - engaged in a friendly conversation online as the revolutionary journey began.

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It began with the The Boring Company thanking the Crown Prince after signing the contract with the RTA to construct Dubai Loop.

"TBC would like to thank the Crown Prince of Dubai and Mattar Al Tayer and his team. The pilot system with 6.4km of tunnel and four stations will begin construction in late 2026."

Musk, who is also the founder of Tesla and SpaceX and currently owns X, reacted to the post by saying, "Boring Company to build Dubai Loop!".

Sheikh Hamdan then replied to the entrepreneur, as he expressed his excitement for the project.

"This is a journey we began together last year at the World Governments Summit. With the Dubai Loop, we look forward to continuing our partnership to usher a new era of mobility that improves the quality of life for the people of Dubai and the UAE."

Described as an“iconic project", the Dubai Loop will feature a network of one-directional underground tunnels connecting key residential, commercial, and tourist areas across the city. The system will include both above ground and underground stations and is designed to deliver fast, seamless travel from first mile to last mile.

Musk then chimed in, replying to the leader by saying, "This will be super cool!"

Netizens react

For the internet, and tech nerds as well as Dubai residents, it was a field day, as people netizens made their way to the comment section with anticipation and excitement for the new project.

One user quoted Elon, as he highlighted his journey from a modest upbringing to being the wealthiest person on the planet. "People are too afraid to try things. They shouldn't be afraid of failing. They should just go and do it.”

Meanwhile, many were quick to make joyous memes out of the highly-anticipated deal.

There was also a lot of praise for Dubai staying ahead of its time and taking action towards existing issues like traffic congestion.

Recent drive around city

Recently, the two took the internet by surprise with another interaction, where the Royal was seen taking a drive around the city with Musk. They met at the leader's majlis in Nad Al Sheba, took a drive around the city, and were also seen joined by their sons.

Accompanying the pictures, Sheikh Hamdan wrote,“I thoroughly enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion with Elon Musk on space, technology, and humanity. Excited to see what the future holds.”

He further added, "During the meeting, we emphasised our pride in the partnerships that bring together the UAE with global economic leaders and changemakers." This is based on the country's "belief that cooperation is the real driver of progress and that the next phase requires an integrated partnership between the government and private sectors," he added.

Easing congestion

Speaking to Khaleej Times earlier, a road expert revealed the new system is expected to ease congestion. "By shifting commuters from private vehicles to a reliable underground system, congestion on surface roads can be significantly reduced," Dr Ahmed Al Mulla, co-founder of UAE-based urban planning and design consultancy firm Arkat.

"The success of this project, however, heavily depends on station placement. Dubai Loop must serve high-demand areas; be easily accessible, and connect seamlessly with existing and upcoming transit networks such as Dubai Metro, Etihad Rail, and bus systems," he added.

RTA noted, in an earlier statement, that the technology that will be used to create the underground transit system will result in rapid execution“with lower cost than conventional tunneling methods, and minimal impact on existing infrastructure and road networks.”

The full Dubai Loop network will span 24 kilometres, with a total estimated cost of Dh2.5 billion and have 19 stations. The first phase, which officially begins today, will cover 6.4 kilometres at an investment of Dh600 million and will have four stations between DIFC and Dubai Mall.

The initial phase is expected to transport up to 13,000 passengers per day, linking high-density destinations.

The excavation costs average Dh70 million per kilometre, as opposed to the Dh125 million per kilometre that conventional tunneling methods would cost. The technology also enables gradual descent during digging, reducing disruption and accelerating delivery.