Elon Musk’s Boring Company wants to build 150km of tunnels across the UAE

Elon Musk’s Boring Company plans to build 150 km of tunnels across the United Arab Emirates, expanding its partnership with the country after raising $3 billion in a funding round led by the UAE.

The deal, which also involves UAE-affiliated investment entities, will support infrastructure projects beyond the company’s Dubai Loop, the Boring Company said.

The latest investment values the Texas-based company at $23 billion and will also fund hiring across engineering, production and operations.

The announcement builds on a series of agreements the Boring Company has secured in Dubai as it advances its underground transport plans.

Under an agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the company is developing the first phase of the Dubai Loop, covering 6.4 km and four stations between Dubai International Financial Center and Dubai Mall.

The initial section is intended to serve as a starting point for the wider network. The full planned alignment is expected to stretch 22.5 km across 19 stations, linking Dubai World Trade Center and the financial district with Business Bay.

Work on precast concrete tunnel segments is already underway, while tunneling is scheduled to start in late 2026.

Unlike conventional metro systems, the Loop is designed around direct, point-to-point journeys. Autonomous electric vehicles would carry passengers through the tunnels directly to their destinations, without the multiple stops typically associated with subway networks.

The company says the approach could shorten travel times while reducing the amount of infrastructure required at street level and freeing urban space for pedestrians and green areas.

The first phase is estimated to cost about $154 million and is expected to take roughly one year to complete after design work and preparatory activities are finished. The full 22.5km network is estimated at about $545 million, with construction expected to take around three years.