Underwater train plan goes viral

An underwater railway project that will supposedly connect Dubai to Mumbai is still in its conceptual stage, the brain behind the concept has clarified.

An ambitious underwater railway project aiming to connect the Gulf region with the Indian subcontinent is still in the early study phase and has not received official approval, confirmed Abdulla Al Shehhi, Managing Director of The National Advisor Bureau Limited. Speaking to Khaleej Times, Al Shehhi clarified that the concept is currently under feasibility review and not ready for implementation.

First proposed in 2018, the idea involves building an underwater railway line that would boost trade and passenger travel between cities like Muscat, Karachi, and beyond. If completed, the network could benefit nearly 1.5 billion people across the region.

The proposed train would use magnetic levitation (maglev) technology, allowing speeds of up to 1000 km/h. The route would pass through submerged concrete tunnels placed 20 to 30 meters below the sea’s surface, offering both high-speed travel and strategic transport solutions.

Al Shehhi also said the project could play a major role in transporting oil from the UAE to India and even bringing freshwater from India’s Narmada River to the UAE. However, he stressed that the plan remains a long-term vision that requires major technical planning and political cooperation.

The bureau behind the idea is known for other bold concepts, including towing icebergs from Antarctica to the UAE for water supply. While the underwater railway has caught public attention, it remains a conceptual project with no timeline for launch or completion.