Elon Musk's tunnels in Abu Dhabi: The Boring Company signs an agreement to study underground transport
On 8 October 2026 the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre signed an agreement with Elon Musk's The Boring Company to study underground transport and utility tunnels. No routes, dates or budget have been disclosed.
On 8 October 2026 the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) signed an agreement with Elon Musk's The Boring Company. The two will study underground transport and utility tunnels in the UAE capital. There are no routes, dates or budget yet: this is a study, not a construction contract.
What did Abu Dhabi and The Boring Company agree?
To study three areas: underground transport, utility tunnels and related infrastructure. They will assess tunnelling systems, feasibility, delivery structures and operating requirements. Any decision to build comes after that.
ADPIC director general Maysarah Mahmoud Eid and The Boring Company president Steve Davis signed the document. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, attended.
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- Date: 8 October 2026.
- Venue: the LIVEX 2026 conference in Abu Dhabi.
- Format: an exploratory agreement with no commitment to build.
- Route, capacity and cost: not disclosed.
What is The Boring Company already building in the UAE?
In Dubai the company is building the Dubai Loop, a network of tunnels used by autonomous Tesla cars. Work began in May 2026. The first phase is expected to open within two years.
| Item | Dubai Loop |
|---|---|
| Phase one | AED 565m, DIFC to Dubai Mall |
| First stations | Burj Khalifa, DIFC 2, Dubai Mall parking, ICD Brookfield Place |
| Full network | 22 km, 19 stations |
| Estimated total cost | about AED 2bn |
The company plans 150 km of tunnels across the Emirates and recently raised $3bn in a round led from the UAE. More in our piece on the Dubai Loop.
Why is Abu Dhabi looking underground?
Abu Dhabi has no metro — not one line, not one station. The city grew across islands linked by bridges, and each new district adds load to the same crossings. A tunnel solves that without another bridge.
Al Shorafa called infrastructure a key driver of future opportunity and stressed the aim of using space more efficiently. The emirate is planning for its population to double by 2040.
The second strand is utility tunnels. Cables, water and cooling in a shared corridor mean roads do not have to be dug up each time a new neighbourhood is connected.
Is this a replacement for the metro?
Officially, no. The capital's transport master plan covers about 131 km: a metro line, two light-rail lines and bus rapid transit. But the metro has no dates, while The Boring Company has a live example in the neighbouring emirate.
Abu Dhabi's first rail transit will be a tram from Yas Island to the airport: about 20 km, opening around 2030. The details are in There is no metro in Abu Dhabi.
What changed in Abu Dhabi transport in autumn 2026?
Three announcements came in ten days. On 30 September the Dubai–Abu Dhabi passenger train started: 1 hour 4 minutes, fares from AED 39. On 2 October phase one of the Mid-Island Parkway was dated for 2027. On 8 October the tunnel agreement was signed.
- Etihad Rail train: running since 30 September 2026.
- Mid-Island Parkway, phase one: AED 2.85bn, 2027.
- Abu Dhabi–Dubai high-speed line: works since August 2026.
- Yas–airport tram: around 2030.
- Boring Company tunnels: study stage.
On the train, see Dubai to Abu Dhabi train.
What does it mean for a property buyer?
Today, nothing you can put into a calculation. The project has no route, and without one nobody can say which district gains. An advert promising "a Musk tunnel nearby" rests on no document at this stage.
It is more useful to look at what is actually being built. The rail station, the Saadiyat road and the tram all have dates. Housing prices respond to transport close to opening, not on announcement day.
Frequently asked questions
When will Abu Dhabi get Boring Company tunnels?
There is no timeline. The agreement of 8 October 2026 covers a study only: technology, feasibility and delivery model. A decision on construction will follow later.
Where will the tunnel run?
No route has been announced. ADPIC has not disclosed an alignment, a number of stations, passenger capacity or the cost of any potential scheme.
How is a Loop different from a metro?
Loop tunnels carry electric cars rather than trains, taking passengers station to station without intermediate stops. The tunnel is narrower than a metro's; phase one in Dubai is priced at AED 565m.
Is there a metro in Abu Dhabi?
No. The UAE capital has no operating lines or stations. Public transport is buses and taxis, joined in 2026 by the intercity Etihad Rail train.
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