On October 8, 2026, ADPIC, the Abu Dhabi Project and Infrastructure Center, announced a partnership with Elon Musk's tunnel technology company, The Boring Company, to explore underground transportation, utility tunnels, and related infrastructure solutions. The agreement was signed during the LIVEX Abu Dhabi Livable and Investment Exhibition, represented by ADPIC Director General and Steve Davis, President of The Boring Company. The scope of cooperation extends from underground passenger transportation to urban pipe corridors, and will evaluate how advanced excavation technology can serve Abu Dhabi's transportation connections, facility operations, and long-term urban development.

Abu Dhabi provides a massive infrastructure platform

Abu Dhabi provides a large-scale infrastructure demand platform for cooperation. ADPIC currently manages a portfolio of over $56 billion in infrastructure projects and has supported the delivery of 100 capital projects in 2025 alone. Both parties will conduct research on project feasibility, construction delivery, and operation mode, and exchange content including tunnel planning, excavation technology, construction methods, safety standards, maintenance, digital engineering, and automation. For continuously expanding cities, underground space can accommodate transportation and public facilities, help alleviate surface road pressure, and improve the efficiency of limited urban space utilization. Abu Dhabi also hopes to cultivate local capabilities through cooperation and evaluate the conditions for becoming a regional hub for advanced tunnels and underground infrastructure.

Dubai project lays the foundation for cooperation

The Boring Company has a Dubai project as its foundation in the United Arab Emirates. In February 2026, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed an agreement to advance the Dubai Loop underground passenger tunnel. The official plan announced by Dubai includes a 6.4-kilometer trial route with four stations connecting the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Dubai Shopping Centre; The complete route plan is 22.2 kilometers long, with 19 stations, covering Dubai World Trade Center, Financial District, and Business Bay. The estimated initial construction cost is about 565 million dirhams, and the complete line is about 2 billion dirhams. The project adopts a tunnel with a diameter of about 3.6 meters for vehicle passage. The test route is expected to serve about 13000 people per day, and the complete route is expected to serve about 30000 people per day. This cooperation in Abu Dhabi has opened the door for exploring underground facility applications in another major city. Keywords: Infrastructure News Network, International, Underground Transportation

$3 billion financing supports expansion

Capital cooperation is also advancing synchronously. In September 2026, The Boring Company announced the completion of a $3 billion financing, valued at $23 billion, led by the United Arab Emirates and affiliated investment entities, with participation from Sequoia Capital a16z、 Temasek, Shamal Holding, etc. The financing will support the company in expanding its engineering, production, and operations teams, and drive cooperation plans for over 150 kilometers of underground infrastructure in the UAE. For the UAE, investment and urban projects can complement each other: capital supports business expansion, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi provide transportation and infrastructure application needs. As the Abu Dhabi cooperation enters the evaluation phase, specific engineering plans, construction methods, and operational arrangements will be key for the company to continue expanding its local business.Editor/Gao Xue