Abu Dhabi has signed an agreement with Elon Musk's Boring Company to assess underground transit, utility tunnels, and related infrastructure as the United Arab Emirates looks for ways to expand its cities without taking up more room above ground.
The move also suggests the country's interest in high-speed underground systems is no longer focused on Dubai alone, where a separate Boring Company project is already underway.
Here's what to know
According to The National, The Boring Company and the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre signed the agreement during the Liveability and Investment conference.
Passenger transportation is only part of the review. Officials are also looking at utility tunnels and other underground infrastructure that could support the emirate's development.
According to The National, Steve Davis, president of The Boring Company, said, "Abu Dhabi provides an ideal environment to explore the next generation of underground infrastructure solutions, supported by its ambitious growth vision and strong commitment to advanced technologies.
"Through our collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre, we look forward to assessing how advanced tunnelling solutions can create new possibilities for transport and utilities, expand urban capacity more efficiently, and enable better use of available space."
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Maysarah Mahmoud Eid, director general of Adpic, said, "Our collaboration with The Boring Company provides an opportunity to explore advanced underground transportation and utility tunnel solutions, drawing on global expertise, technical innovation and international best practices to assess their potential role in supporting Abu Dhabi's future infrastructure requirements and development priorities," per The National.
The deal is exploratory and part of the emirate's broader development planning.
More background
The Abu Dhabi announcement comes as The Boring Company expands its footprint in the UAE.
In September, after a $3 billion funding round led by the UAE, the company aimed to construct 150 kilometers (93 miles) of tunnels across the Emirates.
Construction is underway on the Dubai Loop, a high-speed underground transportation system the government is pursuing with The Boring Company.
The Dubai Loop is expected to begin operating within two years to reduce city congestion.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority said in February that the first phase would cost Dh565 million, or about $153.8 million, and link DIFC with Dubai Mall using autonomous Tesla cars.
The first four stations are planned for Burj Khalifa, DIFC 2, the Zabeel Dubai Mall Parking stop, and ICD Brookfield Place. The full Dubai system is expected to stretch 22 kilometers (14 miles) with 19 stations and carry a final price tag of roughly Dh2 billion.
What's being done?
In Abu Dhabi, the next step is study rather than construction.
Rather than committing to a buildout, the agreement creates a formal process for Abu Dhabi officials and The Boring Company to examine underground transportation and utility tunnel opportunities before any decision is made on a broader buildout.
Abu Dhabi leaders are presenting that work as part of a larger urban development strategy.
Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, said infrastructure is one of the most important "drivers of future opportunity," helping cities "grow efficiently, strengthen connectivity and create lasting value for communities," per The National.
If those studies advance, Abu Dhabi could follow Dubai's example by using underground systems to ease pressure on roads while creating more room above ground for utilities, development, and future expansion.
Where can I learn more?
Abu Dhabi's exploratory deal is part of The Boring Company's broader tunnel push. Related articles examine its plans in Nashville and Las Vegas, along with another major project reveal.
• In Nashville, The Boring Company advanced plans with its latest land purchase near the proposed route.
• In Tennessee, officials backed an underground tunnel connecting Nashville's airport and downtown core.
• Critics say the Nashville tunneling proposal faces serious operational and financial questions.
• In Las Vegas, regulators accused The Boring Company of nearly 800 violations during tunnel work.
• At Florida's Hard Rock, The Boring Company called its newest underground tunnel an engineering problem.
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