Abu Dhabi is exploring new possibilities for underground transport and infrastructure after the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) partnered with Elon Musk’s The Boring Company.
The agreement will examine the potential use of advanced tunnelling solutions for transport networks, utility infrastructure and other projects across the emirate. The initiative is aimed at improving connectivity, strengthening infrastructure reliability and supporting more sustainable urban development.
Beyond individual projects, the partnership will assess Abu Dhabi’s potential to develop into a regional centre for advanced tunnelling and underground infrastructure technologies. The two organisations are expected to examine how such solutions could be applied to the emirate’s future infrastructure requirements.
Under the agreement, ADPIC and The Boring Company will evaluate the feasibility of potential projects, along with possible delivery and operational models. The collaboration will also draw on international technical expertise while supporting the development of local capabilities in tunnelling and underground infrastructure.
The partnership was formalized during the Liveability and Investment Exhibition (LIVEX 2026) in Abu Dhabi. Maysarah Mahmoud Salim Eid, Director General of ADPIC, and Steve Davis, President of The Boring Company, signed the agreement.
The collaboration comes as Abu Dhabi continues to explore infrastructure solutions designed to support urban growth and improve the efficiency of major transport and utility networks. Underground systems can offer additional options for managing infrastructure in densely developed areas while reducing pressure on surface-level networks.
The agreement does not yet commit the parties to a specific tunnelling project. Instead, the initial focus will be on assessing opportunities, technical feasibility and suitable models for future development.
The partnership could eventually support projects extending beyond transport, with utility tunnels and other underground applications also included in the areas being explored.
