There has been a lot of discussion about hyperloops lately. On Sunday, Sheikh Falah bin Zayed signed an agreement with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies to invest in a project to build a hyperloop link between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Last November, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority started the process of planning for a hyperloop between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
While the UAE is sometimes criticised for lacking extensive traditional public transport options, the interest in hyperloops is a sign that we are ready to invest in next-generation infrastructure. While these projects are expensive and might not necessarily get off the ground, the race to have the first functioning hyperloop is the closest thing to a space race that we have here on Earth.
In parts of Asia, bullet trains have long fascinated visitors and eased public transport headaches, but they don’t hold a candle to a fully operational hyperloop system that would allow travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in under 15 minutes. The race is on.
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5