Saudi Arabia Faces Setback as Ambitious $1.5 Trillion Megacity Project, "The Line," Shrinks to Just 1.5 Miles with Layoffs Reported
In a significant blow to Saudi Arabia's grand vision, the ambitious plans for "The Line," a linear desert megacity, have been drastically scaled back, resulting in a substantial reduction in size and a humbling moment for the kingdom. The Line, part of the NEOM project, was initially envisioned as a 106-mile-long city that would accommodate around 1.5 million residents by the end of the decade, with future plans to expand its capacity to a staggering nine million people.
However, sources familiar with the project have revealed that The Line will now span a mere 1.5 miles and house fewer than 300,000 residents by 2030, according to a report by Bloomberg. The downsizing of the project has already led to job cuts, with at least one contractor dismissing workers employed on the construction site.
The Line, a central component of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Vision 2030" initiative, aimed to diversify Saudi Arabia's oil-dependent economy and transform its society and culture, presenting a modern and progressive image to the world. With an estimated cost of $1.5 trillion, the project was marketed as an unparalleled living experience that would harmonize with the surrounding nature.
Concept images released by the kingdom in 2022 showcased a stunning mirrored structure cutting through the desert, juxtaposed against crystal blue ocean waters. The Line was one of fifteen developments in the NEOM project, which encompassed industrial cities, ports, and tourism ventures, gradually unveiled by Saudi Arabia since 2021.
The reduction in size of The Line from 106 miles to 1.5 miles represents a staggering decrease of over 98%. It remains uncertain whether the twin skyscrapers depicted in the initial concept imagery will still be part of the scaled-down project or if the entire vision will need to be reassessed.
Bloomberg's sources indicate that Saudi Arabia has yet to approve NEOM's 2024 budget, raising concerns about the project's vast expenditure. Some projects outlined in the Vision 2030 initiative are already expected to face delays beyond the original timeline, with Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan suggesting that more time is needed for the construction of factories and the development of sufficient human resources.
NEOM was first announced in 2017, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman captivating city planners, architects, and the general public worldwide with his presentation on The Line in July 2021. Originally, The Line's length was compared to the distance between London and Birmingham in the UK or even from London to France. In US terms, it surpassed the distance between New York and Philadelphia.
Unlike sprawling cities we are accustomed to, The Line was designed to be contained within two mirrored structures, each towering 500 feet above sea level, surpassing the height of the Empire State Building. Spanning just 200 yards in width, The Line aimed to counteract uncontrolled urban expansion by layering homes, schools, and parks upon each other in a concept known as "Zero Gravity Urbanism." The promotional material boasted that all daily needs would be within a five-minute walk, while additional amenities such as outdoor skiing facilities and a high-speed rail with a transit time of 20 minutes for the entire line were also envisioned.
However, achieving a 20-minute transit time for a 106-mile journey would require a train capable of reaching speeds of 318 miles per hour, surpassing the Beijing to Shanghai high-speed rail, one of the fastest in the world.
During his presentation, Prince Mohammed painted an even more ambitious picture, describing a car-free utopia that would be the world's most livable city. Nevertheless, analysts have noted that the plans for NEOM have undergone significant changes over the years, casting doubt on whether The Line will ever materialize. Initially hailed as a regional "Silicon Valley" and a biotech and digital hub spanning 10,000 square miles, NEOM's ultimate fate remains uncertain in the face of these recent setbacks.
Saudi Arabia's ambitious project, The Line, aimed at reimagining urban life on a 34-square-kilometer footprint, is facing a setback as it undergoes significant scaling back. The concept, championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a solution to "liveability and environmental crises," has experienced various changes and uncertainties since its initial conception. The Line's population target has been reduced to fewer than 300,000 residents by 2030, compared to earlier estimates of over a million people. The downsizing has resulted in job cuts, and it remains unclear if the iconic twin skyscrapers depicted in the original concept will be part of the revised plans.
The Line was designed to be a sustainable city, powered entirely by renewable energy, with a year-round temperate microclimate and natural ventilation. However, skeptics have raised concerns about the feasibility of its proposed features, such as flying taxis and robot maids. The project's aim to attract a large population influx aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader goal of reaching 50 million residents by 2030 and 100 million by 2040.
Critics have questioned the project's viability, with some architects and economists viewing the concept images as unrealistic and reliant on technologies that do not currently exist. The environmental impact of The Line has also been a subject of contention, particularly regarding its potential threat to migratory birds. The mirrored facades and wind turbines planned for the city have raised concerns about bird collisions and damage to species that migrate over Saudi Arabia.
Despite the scaling back of The Line, Saudi Arabia recently announced another ambitious project called Treyam. This project aims to construct the world's longest sky pool on the roof of a 250-room resort, further showcasing the kingdom's ambitious development plans.
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