In recent years, Saudi Arabia has embarked on a number of mega-projects as part of its “Vision 2030″—an ambitious plan to transform the country’s economy and the lives of its citizens.
One of the main projects under the 2030 Vision is NEOM, a futuristic smart city being built in Saudi Arabia’s northwest Tabuk province. The Line is the latest NEOM development and is modelled around the concept of Zero Gravity Urbanism.
As an alternative to the horizontal city, The Line will be 105 miles long, 200 metres wide and have a footprint of 34 square kilometres. Nine million people will supposedly inhabit the space, which will sit 500 meters above sea level and extend at one end into the Red Sea.
The Line joins two other futuristic projects in NEOM which are already underway.
Built on the Red Sea, Oxagon is a city built for advanced and clean industries, where innovative factories will create the products of the future. Trojena, on the other hand, combines mountain and eco-tourism. When completed in 2026, the mountainous destination will offer year-round events and activities, and has already been selected to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
Saudi Arabia begins construction on “The Line” mega-city
When plans for The Line were unveiled at the start of 2021, many were sceptical about whether the project would actually be built. However, last month, drone footage was released of The Line under construction. Excavators were seen digging a wide trench to make way for what is thought to be The Line’s underground transport system.
Designed to be people-centric, The Line’s high-speed rail system will take away the need for roads and private vehicles. Residents will be able to travel from one end of the city to another in 20 minutes via the high-speed rail system, and all facilities will be within a five-minute walk.
The metropolis will run entirely on renewable energy. Nature will occupy 95% of the space, purifying air quality. Sunlight, shade, and natural ventilation will be optimally balanced, helping to maintain an ideal climate. The walls of the skyscraper will also have mirrored facades to reflect the natural landscape.
High-tech industries and many of the complex systems inside The Line will be facilitated by Artificial Intelligence. NEOM Chief Executive Officer, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, has said:
At NEOM, we are addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity by bringing together a community of the brightest minds, committed to reimagining what a sustainable future will look like in 20 to 30 years and building it today. We are redefining the future now. NEOM is open for business.
The Saudi government and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) are supporting the NEOM project with funds of $500 billion. The Line will open up 380,000 job opportunities and add $50 billion to the country’s GDP.
Some have expressed concerns about The Line’s heavy use of government surveillance in light of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. Questions also remain around water availability for The Line residents, and disruptions to bird migration in the area.
The mega-city is set to be completed by the end of the decade. With the project now under construction, only time will tell if this dystopian vision will become a reality and set a precedent in upwards urban living.
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