SELECTION
What’s Coming to the UAE
The projects officially launched and entering the next phase in 2026.
Flying taxis and underground transport systems, AI megaprojects and the UAE’s first national passenger railway, these are the developments already shifting the country into its next chapter. Read more!
Flying Taxis
Dubai’s flying taxi project is already moving beyond the concept stage. In April 2026, the city completed its first commercial vertiport near Dubai International Airport, becoming one of the first places in the world with fully built air taxi infrastructure. Commercial launches are currently targeted before the end of 2026.
The first routes are planned to connect DXB Airport, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah using fully electric aircraft developed by Joby Aviation. Dubai’s RTA also confirmed additional vertiports near Dubai Mall, Atlantis The Royal and the American University in Dubai.
The first routes are planned to connect DXB Airport, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah using fully electric aircraft developed by Joby Aviation. Dubai’s RTA also confirmed additional vertiports near Dubai Mall, Atlantis The Royal and the American University in Dubai.
Flying taxi. Photo credit: Google
Etihad Rail
Etihad Rail is no longer just a future proposal — the freight railway network is already operating across the UAE, while passenger services officially move into launch phase during 2026.
The passenger system will eventually connect 11 cities across all seven emirates, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. Trains are expected to reach speeds up to 200 km/h, with estimated travel times of around 57 minutes between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Several stations and route maps were already revealed in 2026, and preview rides for media have already taken place in Fujairah, showing that the project is now in its final pre-launch stage rather than early construction.
The passenger system will eventually connect 11 cities across all seven emirates, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. Trains are expected to reach speeds up to 200 km/h, with estimated travel times of around 57 minutes between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Several stations and route maps were already revealed in 2026, and preview rides for media have already taken place in Fujairah, showing that the project is now in its final pre-launch stage rather than early construction.
Etihad Rail. Photo credit: Google
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
After years of delays and construction updates, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is finally moving closer to opening on Saadiyat Island. Once completed, it’s expected to become the largest Guggenheim museum in the world.
The building was designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry and focuses heavily on modern and contemporary art from the Middle East, Asia and Africa rather than only Western collections. The museum is planned as a major cultural addition to Saadiyat’s growing art district alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena.
The building was designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry and focuses heavily on modern and contemporary art from the Middle East, Asia and Africa rather than only Western collections. The museum is planned as a major cultural addition to Saadiyat’s growing art district alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Photo credit: Google
Dubai Loop
Dubai Loop is Dubai’s upcoming underground transport project created together with Elon Musk’s The Boring Company. The idea is to build high-speed tunnels under the city to make trips between busy areas much faster.
The first planned routes are expected to connect places like Downtown Dubai, DIFC, Business Bay and Dubai Marina using autonomous electric vehicles inside underground tunnels. In 2026, the project officially moved into the implementation stage after Dubai RTA signed agreements and started engineering work.
There’s still no confirmed launch date yet, but Dubai Loop already became one of the city’s most talked-about future transport projects.
The first planned routes are expected to connect places like Downtown Dubai, DIFC, Business Bay and Dubai Marina using autonomous electric vehicles inside underground tunnels. In 2026, the project officially moved into the implementation stage after Dubai RTA signed agreements and started engineering work.
There’s still no confirmed launch date yet, but Dubai Loop already became one of the city’s most talked-about future transport projects.
Dubai Loop. Photo credit: Google
Stargate UAE
One of the world’s largest AI infrastructure projects is officially launching its first phase in Abu Dhabi in 2026. Stargate UAE is being developed together with OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia and G42 as a massive new AI datacenter designed to power next-generation artificial intelligence systems.
The project became one of the biggest tech announcements in the region this year, positioning the UAE as a future global hub for AI infrastructure.
The project became one of the biggest tech announcements in the region this year, positioning the UAE as a future global hub for AI infrastructure.
Stargate UAE. Photo credit: Google
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Date of the article's release: spring 2026