[benjaminva]

1. From a sane point of view, this argument makes sense but the UAE don't have a money problem and prestige/aura of modern technology is weighted much heavier than economical reasoning. It would be a huge attraction and a big reputation boost - they could again argue that UAE is where the future is built, not the USA.

2. It is hot down there but from what I have experienced, the thermal swings are lower than on a normal Central European or American day. This means in October 35 C during the day, 30 C at night.

[lisper]

The hyperloop's thermal problems are not the result of day-to-day swings, they are the result of overall swings. This is because the entire track has to be a single length of welded steel tubing. The thermal expansion at the ends is just ridiculous -- hundreds of meters. It doesn't matter if this happens over the course of a day or over the course of a year, it's still going to be a show-stopper.