The UK’s Secretary of State for Transport has hailed the progress of the UAE’s ambitious mobility agenda, singling out in particular the country’s plans to build the world’s first commercial hyperloop system in Abu Dhabi.
According to UAE state news agency, Wam, Chris Grayling MP made the comments at a meeting with Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE’s Minister of Infrastructure Development. The meeting was held on 23 January in London to foster cooperation between the UAE and UK in the transport space.
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Al Nuaimi, who is also chairman of the UAE’s Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime, said the country is looking forward to partaking in the launch of the UK Maritime Strategy this month.
Meanwhile, the UK front bench minister said infrastructure projects being developed by the UAE provide growing opportunities to “further expand partnerships between the two sides”.
Grayling’s comments came just days after Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (Hyperloop TT) revealed that its planned Abu Dhabi hyperloop system is now past the feasibility stage.
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Speaking in a separate interview with Wam last week, Bibop Gresta, Hyperloop TT chairman, said Abu Dhabi’s hyperloop capsule had left the company’s assembly facility in Spain for Toulouse, France, where it will be tested and optimised.
Named Quintero One, the capsule is constructed almost completely out of Hyperloop TT’s specially made dual-layer smart composite material, vibranium. It was officially unveiled at a ceremony in Spain’s Puerto de Santa Maria last October.
