Dubai RTA says it is studying an integrated underground transport network
Mattar Al Tayer, head of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority, said at the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum that an RTA team is examining an underground network for people, goods and services, as part of a three-dimensional mobility plan.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Mattar Al Tayer, director general of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said on Tuesday 13 October 2026 that the authority is planning an integrated underground transport system for people, goods and services. The NationalN “An integrated underground transport system is being planned as part of efforts to reshape mobility above and below ground, said Mattar Al Tayer” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “Dubai is exploring plans to develop an integrated underground transport network that could carry passengers, goods and services beneath the city.” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1He spoke at the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum, in a session titled "The Future of Dubai Mobility in Three Dimensions". Gulf NewsN “during a session titled "The Future of Dubai Mobility in Three Dimensions" at the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum on Tuesday” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2Al Tayer said an RTA working team is examining the proposal. The Gulf News described underground transport as a new area of exploration for the authority, and the plan as a first for Dubai. The NationalN “an RTA working team was examining the proposed network” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “The third dimension, underground transport, represents a new area of exploration for the RTA.” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 1He framed future mobility as three dimensions: the ground, the sky and underground. The proposal aims to free surface space for green areas, pedestrian movement and social interaction. The NationalN “the ground, the sky and underground”“freeing up surface space for wider green areas, pedestrian movement and social interaction” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 2On the ground, the RTA aims for one in four journeys in Dubai to be autonomous by 2030, and Al Tayer said autonomous taxis had travelled more than four million kilometres in a year. The NationalN “The RTA also has a goal for one in every four journeys in Dubai to be autonomous by 2030.” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “autonomous taxis had travelled more than four million kilometres in a single year” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2In the air, Dubai plans to open its first air taxi station this year, according to both outlets; Gulf News adds that air taxi trials began in 2016. The NationalN “the opening of its first air taxi station planned for this year” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “an area Dubai began exploring in 2016 when it launched air taxi trials” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 1Al Tayer said Dubai records more than 11 million journeys a day on its roads, over 7,000 a minute, and that the more than six million people moving around the city in daylight hours is expected to double by 2040. The NationalN “more than 11 million journeys on its roads each day, equivalent to more than 7,000 journeys a minute”“a figure he said was expected to double by 2040” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1He also said infrastructure investments had delivered savings exceeding Dh319 billion and added Dh156 billion to the economy. The NationalN “savings exceeding Dh319 billion and added Dh156 billion to its economy” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1The National places the announcement among other underground projects. The Dubai Loop, with Elon Musk's Boring Company, is to cost Dh565 million for a first phase linking DIFC and Dubai Mall, and eventually to cover 22km with 19 stations at an estimated Dh2 billion. The Boring Company also plans 150km of tunnels in the UAE after raising $3 billion, and last week it signed an agreement to explore underground transport in Abu Dhabi. The NationalN “The network will eventually cover 22km and comprise 19 stations. The estimated final cost is about Dh2 billion.”“the Boring Company planned to to build 150km of tunnels in the Emirates after it raised $3 billion in a funding round” Read at The National ↗
Centre · 2Neither article gives a cost, route, timetable or technology for the new network, which remains at the study stage. The National adds that Dubai's population reached 4.58 million at the end of 2025, up 7.5 per cent year-on-year. The NationalN “The emirate's population reached 4.58 million, representing an increase of 7.5 per cent year-on-year.” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “examining the possibility of developing a comprehensive underground mobility system” Read at Gulf News ↗
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 outlets report the announcement straightforwardly, relaying Al Tayer's account. The National sets it against the Dubai Loop and Boring Company tunnels; Gulf News walks through the three dimensions and uses a question-style headline.
- Emphasis
- The National stresses statistics, investment savings and related tunnel projects. Gulf News stresses the three-dimension concept and the shift from 'How do we move?' to 'Where can we move?'.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither gives cost, timeline or route for the new network. Gulf News does not mention the Dubai Loop; neither includes independent or critical voices.
- Charged language
- “transport revolution”“redefining how space is used”
- For example
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“Tuesday's announcement was the latest in a line of recently unveiled transport projects focusing on the city's underground.” — The National
“Dubai's next big transport revolution? Underground network for passengers, goods and services” — Gulf News
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Mattar Al Tayer announced on 13 October 2026 that an RTA team is examining an underground transport network for people, goods and services.
- He presented it as the third of three dimensions of mobility: ground, sky and underground.
- The RTA targets one in four journeys being autonomous by 2030, and autonomous taxis have travelled over four million km in a year.
- Dubai's first air taxi station is scheduled to open this year.
Mattar Al Tayer person
Presents underground transport as a third dimension of mobility alongside ground and air, to be studied by an RTA team, aimed at efficiency, sustainability and freeing surface space.
“we are redefining how space is used, opening up new opportunities for investment and prosperity” — The National
“replacing the question of "How do we move?" with "Where can we move?"” — Gulf News
Roads and Transport Authority organisation
The RTA has a working team examining a comprehensive underground mobility system and is pursuing autonomous and air mobility targets.
“a team at the authority was examining the possibility of developing a comprehensive underground mobility system” — Gulf News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Dubai plans new underground transport network
Neutral Factual report of Al Tayer's forum remarks with statistics and background on Dubai Loop and Boring Company projects.
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Dubai's next big transport revolution? Underground network for passengers, goods and services
Mixed Largely descriptive of the three-dimension vision, with an enthusiastic question headline.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 13 Oct 08:52 First The NationalN Dubai plans new underground transport network
- 13 Oct 17:00 +8h 8m Gulf NewsN Dubai's next big transport revolution? Underground network for passengers, goods and services
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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