Global interest was caught by the visionary idea of a submerged railway connecting Dubai to Mumbai, however, the initiative’s designer Abdulla Al Shehhi is emphasizing caution. Al Shehhi, managing director of The National Advisor Bureau Limited (NABL), noted that Indian media, central to the recent discussions, speculating on the idea, is not helpful either. Al Shehhi insists that the project is nowhere near implementation and is still nascent – “conceptual stage”.
The idea that was first disclosed back in 2018 resurfaced recently with news channels reinvigorating debates surrounding the prospects of a pioneering trans-boundary underwater rail link. Still, the scope of the project remains contested as there is no concrete backing associated with it. In an interview with Khaleej Times, Al Shehhi clarified that the project is still undergoing feasibility studies and has yet to receive any formal approval.
“We are studying this idea and its possible implications very carefully,” Al Shehhi said. “We are in the early stages of developing it, and there is no possibility of discussing financing or timelines until we get the green light.”
This proposed route not only seeks to include a Dubai-Mumbai rail linkage, but also envisions extending it southward to incorporate cities like Karachi and Muscat, forming an integrated railway system that spans from the Gulf region all the way into the Indian subcontinent. “The region has over 1.5 billion people, so it could serve as an alternative to flying; exacerbating the efficiency of regional travel,” said Al Shehhi. “It becomes more convenient to travel by train than by air.”
As much as the underwater railway concept has the potential to change travel and trade between the UAE, India, and neighboring nations, it is also clear that this project might need quite a bit of time before it can be properly considered reality. With ongoing studies and the seeking of approvals, it seems like the Dubai-Mumbai underwater railway might truly be a case of if everything works out perfectly.