Is Saudi Arabia Still Building THE LINE?
THE LINE, a 170 km-long mirrored megacity cutting through the desert, remains a focal point of Saudi Arabia’s evolving architectural ambitions. Originally celebrated as a groundbreaking urban experiment, it forms the core of NEOM, a $500 billion project in the country’s northwest.
Vision and Design
Designed as a car-free, carbon-neutral city, THE LINE was planned to exist within two parallel walls soaring 500 meters high. This ambitious city aimed to redefine sustainable urban living in the 21st century.
Current Challenges
Recent reports indicate that Saudi Arabia is reconsidering aspects of its vast Vision 2030 portfolio, which includes architectural megaprojects worth over $1 trillion. Officials have admitted that construction speed and costs are no longer sustainable due to declining oil revenues and expanding budget deficits.
Impact on THE LINE
What was once envisioned as a sprawling 170-kilometer project across the Tabuk desert has now been reportedly reduced to just a few miles of initial construction. The government is shifting its focus and reallocating resources, affecting timelines and scale of development.
"Behind the futuristic renderings and bold rhetoric, officials have acknowledged that the pace and cost of construction have become unsustainable amid falling oil prices and growing budget deficits."
Author's Summary
Saudi Arabia's futuristic megacity THE LINE faces scaling back amid economic pressures, shifting from grand plans to more limited initial development.
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