Brakes put on Dubai hyperloop after reports

Dubai transport officials said there is “no specific route” for a high-speed hyperloop link between Dubai and other emirates.

The Roads and Transport Authority also denied the suggestion of a link between Abu Dhabi and Al Maktoum International Airport.

The announcement came amid a flurry of news about hyperloop projects involving different companies and routes.

The authority stepped in a week after US-based Hyperloop Transportation Technologies announced a deal for a system with Aldar Properties.

Its network would initially begin at Alghadeer, the residential development near the border of Dubai where Aldar is planning a Dh10 billion expansion.

At the launch at Cityscape Abu Dhabi, Hyperloop TT chairman Bibop Gresta said he hoped that “the first section will be operational in time for Expo 2020”, although he did not specifically set out an airport link.

In a series of tweets, the authority yesterday put out what it called an explanatory notice saying it had “denied the validity of the announcement of the hyperloop transport technology company regarding the first hyperloop line connecting Abu Dhabi Airport and Al Maktoum Airport in Dubai”.

It said there was “no specific route for operating the hyperloop system in Dubai or between Dubai and other emirates”.

“The system is still under the process of research and development, and RTA is closely following the developments in this technology,” the authority said.

“Projects of this magnitude and complexity must be preceded by careful planning and engineering studies to determine the feasibility of implementation, reduce potential risks and maximise the benefits of the project”.

In recent weeks there have been a series of announcements about possible hyperloop projects.

Virgin Hyperloop One, the investors of which include Sir Richard Branson, Saudi Arabia and Dubai ports operator DP World, is expected to make a major announcement in Dubai next week.