Is Saudi Arabia Still Building THE LINE, Its Futuristic Desert Megacity?
THE LINE, a 170-kilometer-long mirrored city cutting through the desert, represents a bold shift in Saudi Arabia’s architectural ambitions. Originally celebrated as a radical urban experiment, it was designed as the central feature of NEOM, a $500 billion development in the country’s northwest.
Vision and Design
The project promised a car-free, carbon-neutral city enclosed between two parallel walls rising 500 meters high, aiming to create a revolutionary model of urban living.
Current Challenges
Recent reports reveal that Saudi Arabia is reevaluating its vast Vision 2030 portfolio, which includes numerous megaprojects totaling over $1 trillion in value. Officials admit that the construction pace and expenses have become unsustainable due to falling oil prices and increasing budget deficits.
Project Scale Back
Originally planned to span 170 kilometers across the Tabuk desert, THE LINE’s construction has now been reportedly limited to only a few miles as the government shifts its focus and reallocates resources across its development initiatives.
"THE LINE, once envisioned to stretch 170 kilometers across the Tabuk desert, has now reportedly been scaled back to a few miles of initial construction as the government redirects resources and timelines across its development landscape."
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious urban visions face practical challenges that may reshape the future of THE LINE and the broader NEOM project.
Author’s summary
Saudi Arabia’s futuristic megacity THE LINE faces delays and downsizing amid economic pressures, challenging its original visionary scale and pace.