Musk's Dubai loop sparks comparisons to Spain-Morocco underwater tunnel

Tuesday 10 June 2025 - 16:15

By: Dakir Madiha

Musk's Dubai loop sparks comparisons to Spain-Morocco underwater tunnel

Spanish media, including El Faro de Ceuta, have pointed out that Elon Musk's recently announced Dubai Loop bears a striking resemblance to the proposed underwater tunnel project intended to connect Spain and Morocco.

In February, Musk unveiled the Dubai Loop, which aims to create an efficient transportation system across the densely populated areas of Dubai. According to the UAE news agency WAM, Musk emphasized that the project would enable people to travel as if they were moving through a "wormhole" within the city.

Musk also discussed enhancing government efficiency, highlighting the challenge of reducing bureaucracy and improving technology within government institutions. He stressed the necessity of robust public support for such reforms.

El Faro de Ceuta noted that the Dubai Loop shares parallels with the planned underwater tunnel between Spain and Morocco, which seeks to connect the two regions across the Strait of Gibraltar in the coming years.

In May, reports indicated that Spain allocated €1.6 million to assess the feasibility of an underwater tunnel linking Europe and Africa. The Spanish Ministry of Transport reportedly reduced the initial budget from €2.4 million after revising some planned tasks.

Herrenknecht, a leading German company in tunnel construction, is currently evaluating the project's feasibility, aiming to complete the assessment by June. This initiative aligns with the commitment of both countries to enhance infrastructure and foster cooperation, particularly as Spain and Morocco prepare to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal.

In March, the Moroccan government announced plans to invest $1.25 billion in highway infrastructure projects in anticipation of the World Cup. This investment plan, spanning from 2025 to 2032, will focus on three major projects: the Continental Rabat-Casablanca Highway, the Tit Mellil-Berrechid Highway, and the transformation of the Ain Harrouda and Sidi Maarouf junctions.