Is Saudi Arabia Still Building THE LINE, Its Futuristic Desert Megacity?
THE LINE, a 170 km long mirrored megacity cutting through the desert, remains central to Saudi Arabia’s evolving architectural vision. Initially celebrated as one of the most ambitious urban experiments of the 21st century, THE LINE was planned as the core of NEOM, a $500-billion project in the country's northwest.
The concept aimed to create a car-free, carbon-neutral city enclosed within two parallel walls rising 500 meters high. This bold vision is now undergoing a test of feasibility and scale.
Challenges and Scaling Back
Recent reports reveal that Saudi Arabia is reassessing its Vision 2030 portfolio—a collection of architectural megaprojects worth over $1 trillion. Officials admit the rapid pace and high costs of construction have become difficult to sustain due to declining oil revenues and increased budget deficits.
Originally planned to extend 170 kilometers across the Tabuk desert, THE LINE has now reportedly been reduced to a much smaller initial phase, spanning only a few miles as government priorities and timelines shift.
"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."
"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."
THE LINE’s trajectory reflects broader economic adjustments as Saudi Arabia navigates the realities of implementing grand urban ambitions during financial constraints.
Author’s summary: The futuristic Saudi megacity THE LINE faces significant cutbacks as economic pressures force the government to downsize the original ambitious vision and slow construction progress.