As part of the UAE Innovation Month, Virgin Hyperloop One and the Government of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have unveiled the Dubai Hyperloop One's first prototype pods that will be used to transfer passengers between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The full-scale model debuted on Feb. 22 in Dubai's City Walk district.

The pods will be divided into gold and silver classes, and will feature windowless interiors equipped with broadcasting and display technologies, leather seats, and interactive entertainment systems. Upon completion, the Dubai Hyperloop will be transferring approximately 10,000 passengers per hour, to and from each city, in just 12 minutes. In comparison, the same trip currently takes approximately one-and-a-half hours by car.

"The hyperloop is part of RTA’s initiatives for Dubai Future Accelerators. RTA and Virgin Hyperloop One have made considerable progress in the technical, engineering, and economic feasibility study of the project," said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the boards of executive directors of RTA in a news release. "Progress made also included identifying the routes for operating the hyperloop along with its initial design model, which will be exhibited for the first time in the world."

Hyperloop is designed to operate autonomously and will be able to travel at the pace of approximately 670 mph. "[Each vehicle] accelerate[s] gradually via electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube," according to Hyperloop One. "The vehicle floats above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag."

Dubai Hyperloop One is expected to launch within the next five years, according to a Khaleej Times interview with Abdulredha Abu Alhassan, RTA's executive director of the rail planning and projects development.