Dubai Unveils New Mobility Projects to Reduce Traffic and Improve Connectivity
At the World Government Summit, Dubai announced two ambitious mobility projects (Dubai Loop and Glydways Project) aimed at easing traffic congestion and transforming urban transportation. The projects—Dubai Loop and Glydways—are designed to improve connectivity, reduce travel time, and offer sustainable alternatives to traditional road transport.
A New Era of Urban Mobility in Dubai
As traffic continues to grow in major urban areas, Dubai is investing in innovative transportation solutions. The newly announced projects (Dubai Loop and Glydways Project) focus on seamless, technology-driven mobility that integrates with existing infrastructure while minimizing disruption. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed a strategic partnership agreement with the US-based The Boring Company to implement the Dubai Loop passenger transport tunnel project.
Dubai Loop Project
What Is the Dubai Loop?
The Dubai Loop is an underground transportation network inspired by the “Teslas in tunnels” model. It consists of one-directional tunnels with a diameter of 3.6 metres, capable of serving up to 100 vehicles.
First Phase and Locations
The initial phase will connect Dubai Mall with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and include four stations, targeting one of the city’s most congested corridors.
Capacity and Benefits
- Capacity: Up to 13,000 passengers per day
- Travel Time Reduction: From 20 minutes to just 3 minutes
- Key Advantage: Completely bypasses surface traffic
Expansion Plans
In future phases, the network will:
- Extend up to 22.2 km
- Include 19 stations
- Connect Dubai World Trade Centre, the financial district, and Business Bay
Cost and Distance
- Dubai Loop network distance: 24 kilometers
- Estimated cost: 2.5 billion Dirhams
Note: This will significantly transform the transportation system across the city.
Glydways Self-Driving Pod System
What Is Glydways?
The Glydways system features compact, self-driving electric pods that travel at speeds of up to 50 kmph. These pods operate on dedicated pathways roughly the size of a bicycle lane.
Rollout Locations
The project will be introduced in four key areas, primarily to connect metro stations with surrounding neighborhoods:
Bluewaters Island (Trial Route):
2.8 km from National Paints Metro Station to Bluewaters IslandUmm Suqeim:
1.9 km from Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to Madinat JumeirahAl Quoz:
2.6 km from OnPassive Metro Station to Alserkal Avenue and Times Square CentreDubai Festival City:
7 km route with the potential to connect to the Dubai Metro Blue Line
Capacity and Performance
- Pod Capacity: 4–6 passengers
- System Capacity: Over 10,000 passengers per hour per direction
- Pods can be platooned together, functioning like a train
Key Benefits
- Operates on dedicated lanes
- Can be built above ground or underground
- Requires no additional tracks or overhead wiring
- Completely unaffected by existing traffic
Transforming the City’s Transport Future
Together, Dubai Loop and Glydways represent a bold step toward smarter, faster, and more sustainable mobility. By integrating underground networks and autonomous electric transport, Dubai continues to position itself as a global leader in urban innovation and future-ready infrastructure.
These projects not only promise reduced congestion and shorter commute times but also highlight Dubai’s commitment to reimagining how cities move.