World’s First Public Hyperloop Coming to United Arab Emirates

Hyperloop, the revolutionary high-speed transportation system developed by clean energy magnate Elon Musk, looks set to make its debut in the United Arab Emirates. An agreement has been struck between Hyperloop One and the UAE government to bring the innovative technology to the Middle East, connecting Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

So far, Hyperloop – which propels magnetised train cars through pneumatic tubes – has only been tested on an experimental track in Nevada, which would make the proposed UAE track the world’s first consumer implementation of the technology.

“Having signed an agreement with DP World in August to pursue a cargo-based Hyperloop One system at Jebel Ali Port, our focus has now expanded to include connecting the emirates,” Rob Lloyd, chief executive of Hyperloop One, said. “As a central global transport hub, pursuing the implementation of a Hyperloop in the UAE makes sense.”

“The leaders of the UAE understand that transportation is the new broadband, with the power to transform life throughout the GCC,” he added. “We are now at a stage where, from a technological point of view, we could have a Hyperloop One system built in the UAE in the next five years.”

The Dubai-to-Abu Dhabi Hyperloop track will boast travel times of as little as 12 minutes, at speeds close to 1,200kph, between the two cities. The track is expected to be completed in 2020.

“That will take between 90 to 120 days but, by the end of it, we will have a plan for where the stations will be located and the route of the network,” Hyperloop One co-founder and president of engineering, Josh Giegel said. “Once that is complete we will set-up a proof of operations facility where we will be able to test the system on a 20km to 30km track. We are working with the RTA to evaluate potential locations for stations and the tube route.”