500mph Hyperloop train will travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in 12 minutes
An ultra high-speed hyperloop—personal transportation pods whizzing through skyscrapers and sand dunes faster than an airplane—might soon become a reality here in Dubai.
In recent weeks, the hyperloop has gone from a concept touted by Elon Musk to something realistically achievable within the next five years in a city that is fittingly futuristic, partly because of the government’s push for the system. As other centers of innovation grapple with uncertain politics, this young city in the United Arab Emirates is resolutely building on ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to be “the world’s most innovative city, within seven years." (You might remember that Peter Diamandis, founder of the XPrize and several space companies, said he would also be on board with the plans last year).
Hyperloop One—one of the leading global companies focused on translating Musk’s plans into reality—recently announced that it is working on building a transport system that can cut the travel time between Dubai and UAE capital, Abu Dhabi to twelve minutes. Currently it takes approximately 90 minutes to cover those 65-odd miles