Aecom to supervise Dubai Loop construction

11 May 2026
The first phase comprises a 6.4-kilometre route with four stations, linking the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Mall

 

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US-based Aecom has been selected for a contract to undertake design review and construction supervision services for the Dubai Loop transportation system.

The contract was tendered by Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), which signed a construction agreement with Elon Musk-backed firm The Boring Company.

The first phase comprises a 6.4-kilometre route with four stations, linking the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai Mall.

Stations will be located at DIFC 2, ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai Mall Zabeel Parking and Burj Khalifa.

The first phase is expected to cost about AED565m ($154m) and be delivered within one year of design work and other preparations being completed. Tunnelling is expected to begin in the second half of this year.

The latest update follows the appointment of Parsons Corporation to deliver programme management services for the Dubai Loop transportation system.

Next phase

The second phase will connect the Dubai World Trade Centre and DIFC with Business Bay.

The tunnels will extend up to 22km and include 19 stations.

The total cost across both phases is expected to be around AED2bn ($545m), with completion scheduled within three years.

The pilot route is expected to serve around 13,000 passengers a day, while the full route is projected to have a capacity of about 30,000 passengers a day.

The RTA and The Boring Company signed a memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai in February last year to explore the development of the Dubai Loop transportation system.

The Dubai Loop is expected to be similar to The Boring Company’s Las Vegas Convention Centre (LVCC) Loop project. The LVCC Loop is a 2.7km underground tunnel system that connects different convention centre halls, reducing walking time across the site to about two minutes.

The LVCC Loop has been in operation since 2021. It uses Tesla Model 3 cars to carry passengers between five stations. The Boring Company began construction in November 2019 at an estimated cost of $49m.

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