Dubai to build the worlds first Hyperloop network by 2021
Countries are racing to improve access to, and the mobility of, their citizens and their workforces in order to boost their economies, and new "advanced transportation technologies" are increasingly being seen as the new broadband.
Key takeaways
- Dubai is to be home to the world’s first Hyperloop One transport link, which is expected to begin operations for passengers in 2020.
- The ambitious plans for a new multi-billion dollar hi-tech Hyperloop transport system were unveiled today and will see travel times between Dubai and Abu Dhabi slashed from thirty minutes to as little as 12 minutes.
- One of the concepts for the route is to have a mixed underground and overground link.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'Dubai to build the worlds first Hyperloop network by 2021', 311 Institute, 8 November. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/dubai-announces-plans-to-build-worlds-first-hyperloop-network-by-2021/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Dubai is to be home to the world’s first Hyperloop One transport link, which is expected to begin operations for passengers in 2020. The ambitious plans for a new multi-billion dollar hi-tech Hyperloop transport system were unveiled today and will see travel times between Dubai and Abu Dhabi slashed from thirty minutes to as little as 12 minutes.
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Breaking news: @RTA_Dubai and Hyperloop One sign a deal to pursue a passenger and cargo #hyperloop network in the UAE pic.twitter.com/u7Gqd3dcaK
HyperloopOne (@HyperloopOne) November 8, 2016
Once operational, passengers will be able to book travel on the train, which will use a system of vacuum tubes and superconductors to help propel it to will be capable of speeds in excess of Mach 1.0, with a smartphone app, which, once linked to a fleet of autonomous cars, yet to be announced, will provide users with a door to door service.
"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," said Rob Lloyd, Chief Executive of Hyperloop One.
"As a central global transport hub, pursuing the implementation of a Hyperloop in the UAE makes sense and the leaders of the UAE understand that transportation is the new broadband, with the power to transform life throughout the GCC. 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," he said.
He was speaking during the signing of an agreement between the company and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority on Tuesday at the Burj Khalifa.
The dramatically short travel times are made possible by the 1,200kph speed of the "pods" that travel through a tube using magnetic levitation and the Los Angeles based startup is planning to show off a working proof of concept system next year.
The agreement will see the partnership between Hyperloop One and the RTA move into a "pre-feasibility stage," said the company’s co-founder and president of engineering, Josh Giegel.
"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," he 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."
The developers are promising direct travel between destinations within the Emirates with journeys between Dubai and Fujairah as low as 10 minutes and Dubai to Riyadh in just 40 minutes and the project will be split in to three phases, with the first focusing on creating a network in Dubai. It will then link with Abu Dhabi and the final phase is expanding to the rest of the GCC.
A private video presentation showing the journey between potential stations at Etihad Towers and Burj Khalifa was shown to everyone who attended and it showed how passengers would book their pods using a smartphone app, arrive at the station and then be whisked off at speeds of up to 1,200kmh, through the hyperloop tunnels to arrive at their destination just moments later.ing a smartphone app passengers will be given the number of the pod they will take for their journey and once at the station, they will get into the pod which will then speed off into the "Loop Tunnel" then moves into the loop tunnel to travel. One of the concepts for the route is to have a mixed underground and overground link.
"Imagine stepping out of your villa in Dubai, into a self-driving vehicle that resembles your living room and arriving just 48 minutes later at your office in Riyadh. That is what Hyperloop One can deliver," said Mr Giegel.
No ticket pricing has been set but Mr Giegel believes it would be at an "affordable" level, between the price of a Metro and a high-speed rail service.
"This is an opportunity to help transform the UAE from a technology consumer to a technology creator, incubating expertise for a new global industry, in line with the UAE’s Vision 2021," said Matter Al Tayer, director general of the RTA.
"With Hyperloop One, we will create a new means of transportation, keeping our region at the forefront of transportation technology and innovation."
What this means for your organisation
Transport is the new broadband.
Hyperloop One says faster travel can transform life across a region. Cutting journey times links labour markets and businesses. Cities connected by fast links gain an edge.
Door to door is the goal.
Booking by app and connecting to autonomous cars aims for seamless trips. Transport becomes a service, not a single vehicle. Operators should plan integrated journeys.
Feasibility comes first.
The deal starts with a short pre-feasibility study. Many such plans slip or change. Leaders should track progress before betting on dates.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- How would much shorter journeys change where our staff live?
- Could our services plug into a door to door transport system?
- What evidence would we need before planning around hyperloop routes?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Countries are racing to improve access to, and the mobility of, their citizens and their workforces in order to boost their economies, and new "advanced transportation technologies" are increasingly being seen as the new broadband.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Hyperloop One hyperloop-one.com
- View on X → twitter.com
- Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority rta.ae
- Index burjkhalifa.ae
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 8 November 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). Dubai to build the worlds first Hyperloop network by 2021. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/dubai-announces-plans-to-build-worlds-first-hyperloop-network-by-2021/
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