Is Saudi Arabia Still Building THE LINE, Its Futuristic Desert Megacity?
THE LINE, a 170-kilometer-long mirrored megacity cutting through the desert, is a central element of Saudi Arabia’s evolving architectural vision. Initially promoted as one of the most daring urban experiments of the twenty-first century, it was designed as the core of NEOM, a $500-billion project in the country's northwest.
The city was planned to be car-free and carbon-neutral, enclosed between two parallel walls rising 500 meters high. This ambitious concept now faces significant challenges.
Current Status and Challenges
Recent reports indicate Saudi Arabia is reconsidering its Vision 2030 megaprojects, which collectively exceed $1 trillion in value. Officials admit construction's pace and costs have grown unsustainable due to declining oil revenues and increasing budget pressures.
Originally planned to stretch 170 kilometers across the Tabuk desert, THE LINE’s construction has reportedly been reduced to just a few miles as resources and timelines are adjusted.
"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."
Summary
THE LINE remains a visionary project but now faces a scaled-back reality as Saudi Arabia reallocates its efforts amid economic constraints.
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