“Our vertical city is starting to take shape,” the Neom corporation announced in a recent video, showing a fleet of trucks and excavators moving sand from the Saudi desert to lay the groundwork for The Line, a construction project aiming to revolutionize urban living.
Activity has picked up in recent months on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) plan for a 170km-long city, mere 200 meters wide, flanked by two horizontal skyscrapers. The ambition is to create an urban marvel comparable to Egypt’s pyramids.
The Line is the focal point of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s strategy for economic and technological advancement. Numerous megaprojects involving tourism, real estate, sports, and transport are being developed across the nation under this vision.
Despite visible progress at the massive site by the Red Sea, The Line is facing major hurdles. Escalating expenses, hesitant investors, design complexities, and human rights concerns are causing considerable strain.
Initially, the kingdom had grand plans for the first phase, expecting over 1.5 million residents by 2030. However, sources now indicate that the number will be under 300,000. By this date, a scant 2.4km of The Line will be constructed. Analysts note that the project’s cost is projected to soar to $2 trillion, a significant leap from the earlier $500 billion estimate for the Neom zone, which also includes a floating hotel and foldable village.
Two immense, mirrored skyscrapers spanning 170km of desert and mountain terrain are part of The Line’s futuristic design
Sources involved in the project describe a chaotic environment, susceptible to the crown prince’s changing preferences. Delays have occurred due to adjustments as requested by MBS, including relocating one end to a favored spot and dealing with tons of sand dumped at a planned waterway site.
MBS recently directed architects to slim down The Line’s width from 2km to 200 meters.
“Living in The Line may seem daunting and impractical,” says Tom Ravenscroft, editor of architecture journal Dezeen. “Distances mean that workplaces and social contacts could be far apart. This city appears tailored for a specific group – young professionals in digital sectors – rather than families or the elderly.
“Radial cities evolved naturally for a reason – they offer convenience with all points relatively close. The logic behind a linear city is hard to grasp.”
The Line is touted as a sustainability model, powered by green energy, yet analysts are cautious about the environmental cost, especially given the lengthy construction phase in the desert. A Dezeen report highlighted potential threats to migratory species due to the vast, mirrored surfaces.
Project representatives maintain optimism. “The scale remains unchanged,” said Saudi economy minister Faisal al-Ibrahim, emphasizing the modular design. Chief operating officer Giles Pendleton recently mentioned a “record month” for excavation.
Analysts have cast doubt on the project’s ultimate scope (Photo: Neom/AFP).
Skeptics, such as Dr. Andreas Krieg from King’s College London, question the viability of the full project. “Developments are scattered and unintegrated,” he notes. “The first phase targets less than 2 per cent completion, and even that seems overly ambitious.”
Funding is another concern. Despite Saudi Arabia’s vast wealth, securing foreign investment has proven challenging. “The ambition was to boost foreign direct investment substantially,” says Torbjorn Soltvedt of risk consultancy firm Maplecroft. “They aimed for over 5 per cent of GDP by 2021, but reached only about 1 per cent last year.”
Most funding has come domestically, through the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, Saudi banks, or companies like Aramco. The Neom corporation did not comment on the project’s costs.
The first 2.4km of The Line is expected to be complete by 2030 (Photo: Neom/AFP).
Ethical concerns also deter foreign investors. Issues such as human rights records and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi have raised red flags.
Additionally, a BBC report claimed Saudi authorities used lethal force to evict residents for The Line’s construction. Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, a member of the local Huwaitat tribe, died resisting eviction in 2020. Official statements claim he fired at officers.
Riyadh asserts that 6,000 residents have been displaced for the project, but human rights groups argue the numbers are higher, citing multiple arrests and death row sentences linked to resistance efforts.
While some doubt the project’s completion, Ravenscroft believes the wealth and influence driving it could make a version of The Line possible, fueled by MBS’s personal commitment to its realization.
The project also has strategic merits, says Dr. Krieg, enhancing connections with regional and possibly wider global partners. He adds, “Whether or not these megaprojects come to fruition, they generate global interest, attracting companies and attention to Saudi Arabia.”
