The Line, a 125-mile mirrored city spanning the Saudi Arabian desert, faces an uncertain future as the kingdom’s government reviews the £6.8tn Neom mega-city project amid delays and budget concerns
A colossal £6.8tn mega-city rising from the desert sands is hitting a significant snag. Saudi Arabia’s Neom belly already swallowed billions but is grappling with substantial construction setbacks.
The Saudi government has now initiated a review that might dramatically reduce the scale of these bold ambitions. The futuristic metropolis was set to feature The Line, a mammoth chain of half-kilometre-high skyscrapers stretching 125 miles across the desert.
With a budget of roughly £365bn and a 2030 deadline, the vision seemed unstoppable.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spearheaded the initiative to wean Saudi Arabia off its oil dependency, according to The Sunday Times. He’s reportedly become increasingly exasperated with schemes beset by hold-ups.
Multiple other ventures have already been shelved or abandoned altogether. Neom is now the latest to face scrutiny and could pivot towards artificial intelligence data centres rather than the sprawling city originally envisaged, reports the Express.
An insider familiar with the review revealed to The Sunday Times that The Line’s fate hangs in the balance. It might be axed completely or significantly downsized.
That said, the prince is believed to see potential in the scheme to relieve pressure on bursting cities like Riyadh, which is struggling to accommodate Saudi Arabia’s 35 million inhabitants. The initial vision for Neom included a sprawling 6,500 square kilometre nature reserve alongside Trojena, a mountainous retreat featuring Saudi Arabia’s debut outdoor ski slopes.
Trojena is expected to offer freezing winter conditions and a “moderate year-round climate”.
Trojena was due to welcome the 2029 Asian Winter Games, but officials have already acknowledged it won’t be completed on schedule.
The Line, consisting of mirror-clad structures, was designed to accommodate nine million residents in what developers described as a reimagining of “redefine the concept of urban development”. All facilities would be within a “five minutes walk” of inhabitants, whilst a rapid transit system would traverse The Line’s entire length in just 20 minutes.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 stated: “The Line is a revolutionary city that puts humans first, providing an unprecedented urban living experience while preserving its surrounding nature.”
The crown prince is thought to have established lofty targets for these ventures, hoping at least some objectives could be met. However, declining oil revenues have forced the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund to reconsider its expenditure.
To date, the sole operational component of Neom is the yachting destination Sindalah. The seahorse-configured development has been largely viewed as unsuccessful, with reports last year suggesting Prince Mohammed didn’t even turn up to its formal launch.
Neom is now facing a fresh assessment as Saudi Arabia and the UAE pivot towards artificial intelligence, striving to position themselves as worldwide tech powerhouses. The PIF has just unveiled HUMAIN, its venture focused on developing comprehensive AI and data centre infrastructure.
Alongside economic transformation, the kingdom has undergone significant social shifts in recent years, including the dissolution of the religious police and granting women the right to drive. Prince Mohammed has earned praise from many younger Saudis, though he’s also drawn scrutiny, with critics facing lengthy prison sentences for social media activity.
Express.co.uk has contacted NEOM for comment.
