The Line: $500 Billion Desert City Project Reshapes Saudi Arabia and Tests Limits of Urban Innovation
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A groundbreaking construction project in the Saudi Arabian desert is capturing global attention, as recent aerial photographs reveal the massive scale of The line, a planned city representing the largest investment figure in human history. The enterprising endeavor, a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030, aims to redefine urban living and position the Kingdom as a leader in sustainable technology.
The project,unfolding in the northwest of the Kingdom,is unlike any seen before. Initial reports indicate over $500 billion is being invested to construct a city 170 kilometers long and 500 meters high – exceeding the height of the Burj Khalifa by an additional 72 floors. The sheer scale of the undertaking is prompting comparisons to the construction of the Grate wall of China, but wiht a distinctly 21st-century focus on sustainability and technological advancement.
A Vision for a Carbon-Neutral Future
The Line is designed to accommodate 9 million residents in a entirely carbon-emission-free habitat. Experts predict NEOM, the larger region encompassing The Line, will become “the largest urban experience in modern history,” mirroring the rapid development seen in cities like Dubai and Singapore. This ambitious goal is central to Saudi Vision 2030, a national strategy to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from its reliance on oil and toward technology and innovation.
“We are witnessing history being written before our eyes,” stated engineer Sarah Al-nimri, the first saudi engineer to supervise the development of artificial intelligence technologies within the project. “This is not just a project… it is a real urban revolution.”
Human Cost and Complex realities
While the project promises thousands of job opportunities and the development of advanced technical skills,its construction is not without its challenges. The rapid pace of development is unfolding alongside complex human stories.
One construction worker, logging 12-hour days digging the foundations, recounted, “Every day I feel like I am building the future with my own hands, but the enormity is sometimes terrifying.”
The project has also led to displacement, as evidenced by the experience of Ahmed Al-Balawi, a camel breeder from the Al-Huwaitat tribe. He expressed mixed feelings, stating, “I understand the importance of the project, but my heart is still with the desert in which I grew up.” These accounts highlight the societal challenges inherent in such a large-scale conversion.
What Happened?
The Line, initiated in 2017 as part of Saudi Vision 2030, aimed to create a revolutionary, sustainable urban environment. The project, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, envisioned a linear city minimizing the footprint on the surrounding landscape. construction began in earnest in 2021, with initial phases focusing on infrastructure development and foundational work for the first segments of the city. The project’s scale and ambition quickly drew international attention, both for its potential and its inherent risks.
Why Did It End?
In February 2024, Saudi Arabia significantly scaled back the ambitions of The Line, abandoning the original 170-kilometer length. Reports indicated the project was facing substantial engineering challenges, including difficulties with the planned high-speed transit system and concerns about the feasibility of constructing such a massive structure in the desert environment. The project’s cost, initially estimated at $500 billion, was also a major factor, with concerns about economic sustainability. The revised plan focuses on a much smaller, 16-kilometer segment intended to showcase the project’s core concepts.
