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Abu Dhabi signs agreement with Boring Company to explore tunnel projects

Abu Dhabi's infrastructure centre ADPIC and Elon Musk's Boring Company signed an agreement at LIVEX 2026 to explore underground transport and utility tunnels. It is a feasibility-stage deal, not a construction contract.

2 outlets · 0L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Gulf News
Image: The National

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The story, neutrally told

Centre · 2The Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) and The Boring Company (TBC), founded by Elon Musk, signed an agreement to explore underground transport, utility tunnels and related infrastructure in Abu Dhabi. Centre · 1It was signed at the Liveability and Investment Exhibition (LIVEX 2026) in Abu Dhabi by ADPIC Director General Maysarah Mahmoud Salim Eid and Boring Company President Steve Davis, in the presence of Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). Centre · 1The emirate's media office announced the deal on Thursday.

Centre · 1The two sides will assess project feasibility, delivery and operational models, exchange expertise and explore building local capabilities in advanced tunnelling, according to the statement; the agreement is about assessment rather than committed projects. Centre · 1Areas of cooperation include tunnel planning, advanced boring technologies, construction methods, safety standards, operations and maintenance, digital engineering, automation and infrastructure lifecycle management. Centre · 2Al Shorafa said the emirate was exploring approaches to optimise use of space, strengthen connectivity and support sustainable urban growth. Davis said Abu Dhabi offered an ideal environment for next-generation underground infrastructure, and Eid said the collaboration would let Abu Dhabi assess the potential role of such solutions in its future infrastructure needs.

Centre · 1ADPIC oversees an infrastructure portfolio exceeding $56 billion and supported delivery of 100 capital projects in 2025, according to the statement. Centre · 1The National added context: last month it reported that the Boring Company planned 150km of tunnels in the UAE after raising $3 billion in a UAE-led funding round, and it is already working with Dubai on the Dubai Loop. Centre · 1Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority said in February that the Loop's first phase would cost Dh565 million ($153.8 million) and use autonomous Tesla cars between DIFC and Dubai Mall; the full 22km, 19-station network is estimated to cost about Dh2 billion, and operations are expected within two years.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Both UAE-based outlets report the deal as an official, forward-looking partnership announcement, closely following the government statement.
Emphasis
Gulf News stresses the scope of cooperation and ADPIC's portfolio; The National adds the Boring Company's UAE funding and the Dubai Loop.
Leaves out or plays down
Neither gives costs, timelines, routes or binding commitments for Abu Dhabi, and neither includes independent or critical comment.
Charged language
“next generation of underground infrastructure solutions”
For example
“Our partnership with The Boring Company reflects Abu Dhabi's ambition to combine long-term vision, innovation and global expertise” — Gulf News
“Abu Dhabi provides an ideal environment to explore the next generation of underground infrastructure solutions” — The National

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.