Dubai has announced two major transport projects aimed at easing congestion and improving last-mile connectivity across the city. Unveiled at the World Government Summit, the Dubai Loop and Glydways systems signal a clear push toward futuristic, technology-led mobility solutions that bypass traditional road traffic altogether.
The projects are being led by the Roads and Transport Authority, which has steadily expanded its traffic optimisation efforts across the emirate. In 2025 alone, the authority implemented 67 rapid traffic improvement measures. The newly announced systems take that strategy a step further by rethinking how people move within dense urban zones.
Dubai Loop: Underground, High-Speed Urban Transit
The Dubai Loop takes shape as an underground mobility network inspired by tunnel-based transport systems already operating in major global cities.
In its first phase, the project will connect Dubai Mall and the Dubai International Financial Centre—two of the city’s busiest commercial hubs.
From an engineering standpoint, each tunnel will run in a single direction, with a diameter of 3.6 metres and capacity to accommodate up to 100 vehicles. The initial stretch will include four stations and is designed to carry around 13,000 passengers daily.
Most notably, the system promises a dramatic reduction in travel time. Journeys that currently take about 20 minutes by road could drop to just three minutes via the Loop.
Looking further ahead, planners intend to expand the network well beyond the first corridor. Future phases will link the system to the Dubai World Trade Centre, Business Bay, and nearby commercial districts.
Once fully completed, the Dubai Loop is expected to span roughly 24 kilometres, feature 19 stations, and involve an estimated investment of Dh2.5 billion.
Glydways: Driverless Pods for Last-Mile Connectivity
Complementing the underground Loop, the Glydways system will operate as a surface-level autonomous transport network designed to address one of Dubai’s most persistent challenges: last-mile connectivity.
Under this model, Glydways will deploy self-driving electric pods running on dedicated lanes roughly the width of a bicycle path. Each pod will carry between four and six passengers and travel at speeds of up to 50 kmph.
During peak periods, operators can link multiple pods to create a train-like formation, allowing the system to scale capacity in real time.
In terms of throughput, the network is expected to transport more than 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, while remaining fully separated from existing road traffic.
The rollout will begin with four pilot corridors:
- Bluewaters Island: A 2.8 km route connecting the National Paints Metro Station to Bluewaters Island, scheduled as the trial phase.
- Umm Suqeim: A 1.9 km stretch from the Mall of the Emirates metro station to Madinat Jumeirah.
- Al Quoz: A 2.6 km route linking the OnPassive Metro Station with Alserkal Avenue and Times Square Centre.
- Dubai Festival City: A 7 km corridor serving the area, with potential future integration into the Dubai Metro Blue Line.
Because Glydways pods operate on dedicated paths that can be built above ground, underground, or alongside existing roads, the system avoids the need for rails, overhead wiring, or major road reconstruction.
Why These Projects Matter
Taken together, Dubai Loop and Glydways tackle two distinct but interconnected mobility challenges. The Loop focuses on easing heavy congestion between major commercial districts, while Glydways targets shorter, everyday trips linking metro stations with nearby neighbourhood destinations.
More broadly, both systems aim to reduce reliance on private vehicles, lower emissions, and make commuting more predictable. Just as importantly, they align with Dubai’s wider strategy to scale up autonomous and electric transport without disrupting existing infrastructure.
Once testing phases conclude, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to expand both networks into additional parts of the city and integrate them with established metro and bus systems.
A shift in how Dubai moves
Instead of widening roads or adding conventional lanes, Dubai is investing in entirely new layers of mobility. By moving passengers underground and onto dedicated autonomous pathways, the city is building parallel transport networks that function independently of surface traffic.
If executed as planned, these projects could redefine urban commuting in Dubai, delivering faster, cleaner, and more reliable ways to navigate one of the world’s busiest urban environments.
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Displays at the RTA pavilion on the first day of the World Government Summit in Dubai. Photo: Shihab
Source: Khaleej Times
