Is Saudi Arabia Still Building THE LINE, Its Futuristic Desert Megacity?
THE LINE is a 170-kilometer-long mirrored megacity cutting through the desert and represents a central piece of Saudi Arabia’s evolving architectural vision. Originally celebrated as one of the most daring urban experiments of the 21st century, THE LINE was designed as the core of NEOM, a $500 billion development in the country’s northwest.
This futuristic city aimed to be car-free and carbon-neutral, with two parallel walls rising 500 meters high enclosing the urban space. However, the ambitious project now faces significant challenges.
Challenges and Reassessment
Recent reports reveal that Saudi Arabia is reevaluating its expansive Vision 2030 portfolio, a collection of megaprojects worth over $1 trillion. Officials admit that the construction’s pace and costs have become unsustainable due to declining oil prices and increasing budget deficits.
"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."
Summary
The massive scale of THE LINE’s original plan has been reduced as Saudi Arabia adjusts its priorities amid financial and economic pressures.
Author's Summary
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious desert megacity THE LINE faces downsizing and delays as economic pressures prompt a strategic reassessment of the country's huge architectural initiatives.