In October, the excavation work for the superlative The Line Saudi Arabia construction project began. What some consider an ideal ecological city, others call a promotional gimmick. Is Saudi Arabia’s The Line a revolution in architecture or the pipe dream of a desperate country?
The Line Saudi Arabia megacity construction project
The Line, a city Saudi Arabia plans to build from scratch in the desert, is the embodiment of the dream to completely rethink a city. It will consist of two gigantic, unbroken rows of skyscrapers with living space in between, stretching 105 miles long, 220 yards wide, and 1640 feet high (117 stories tall)—higher than any building in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. It will run straight from the Red Sea to the city of Tabuk.
The city is expected to house nine million people—more than any other city in Saudi Arabia. This translates to a population density of 265,000 people per square kilometer—ten times denser than Manhattan and four times denser than the inner districts of Manila, the densest urban neighborhoods on Earth. How such a large population will be attracted to a medium-sized country like Saudi Arabia remains to be seen.
The unique features of Saudi Arabia’s The Line dream city
The project emphasizes sustainability in several ways. For instance, distances that take no more than five minutes to walk will not require cars. This will not only save space in terms of infrastructure and parking, but it will also reduce the number of cars and their emissions.
Moreover, all energy will be produced with zero carbon emissions. The city is said to be powered entirely by renewable energy (but its construction will emit a significant amount of greenhouse gases). It will have three layers, one for pedestrians on the surface, one underground for infrastructure, and another underground for transportation. The city will be monitored by artificial intelligence, which will use predictive and data models to improve daily life for its citizens, and residents will be paid for providing data to The Line.
The cost of Saudia Arabia’s The Line city are as stunning as the city itself
The building cost is estimated to be between US$100–200 billion, but some estimates put it as high as $1 trillion. However, the Saudi government claims that it will create 460,000 jobs, drive economic diversification, and contribute 180 billion SAR to the domestic GDP by 2030.
The Line architectural project
The plan for The Line was announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on January 10, 2021, in a presentation that was broadcast on state television. A year later, the following news release was issued around the world.
Earthworks, the official start of construction, for The Line began in October 2021, and the first residents are expected to move in by 2024. As of July 2022, the first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed by 2030.
The project management team enforced confidentiality agreements with all architects involved in the project, which is why there are no mentions of The Line on any architectural website. According to German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, two well-known architects, Norman Foster and Francine Houben from Mecanoo, terminated their participation in the project due to concerns about human rights and ecology.
The paper also reported that several high-ranking architects are still involved in the project, such as David Adjaye, Ben van Berkel (UN Studios), Massimiliano Fuksas, the London office of the late Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA), Delugan Meissl, and Wolf D. Prix from Coop Himmelb(l)au.
A list of unique features of Saudi Arabia’s The Line megacity
The list of unique features of The Line is astounding.
- Zero cars, zero streets, and zero carbon emissions: The Line is a city built with sustainability in mind. The city will be free of cars and streets, and will rely solely on clean energy sources to produce zero carbon emissions.
- Hyper-connected: The Line city will be hyper-connected, with advanced technologies and artificial intelligence integrated into every aspect of the city’s infrastructure.
- Ultra-fast transit system: The city will have an ultra-fast transit system that will transport residents from one end of the city to the other in under 20 minutes.
- Self-sufficient communities: The Line will feature self-sufficient communities that will provide residents with everything they need within a five-minute walk of their homes.
- Protected nature: The city will be built in a way that protects the surrounding nature, with green spaces and wildlife corridors integrated into the city’s design.
- Advanced healthcare and education: The Line will feature advanced healthcare and education facilities, providing residents with access to cutting-edge medical and educational technologies.
- Zero-waste: The city will produce zero-waste, with all waste generated by residents and businesses recycled or repurposed.
- 24/7 security and surveillance: The Line will have 24/7 security and surveillance, ensuring the safety of residents and the protection of the city’s infrastructure.
- Sustainable food production: The city will have sustainable food production systems, with vertical farms and hydroponic systems integrated into the city’s design.
- Smart buildings: The Line will have smart buildings that use sensors to monitor and optimize energy consumption and indoor air quality.
- Innovative waste management: The city will use innovative waste management techniques, such as composting and anaerobic digestion, to minimize waste and produce renewable energy.
- Green energy: The Line will rely on green energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to meet its energy needs.
- Public spaces: The city will have plenty of public spaces, such as parks and plazas, where residents can gather and socialize.
- Mixed-use development: The Line will feature mixed-use development, with residential, commercial, and industrial spaces all coexisting in the same area.
- Smart grid: The city will have a smart grid that uses advanced technologies to optimize energy distribution and consumption.
- Smart waste bins: The city will have smart waste bins that use sensors to monitor and optimize waste collection.
- Efficient water use: The city will use efficient water use systems, such as greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting, to minimize water consumption.
- Vertical gardens: The city will feature vertical gardens that provide greenery and help purify the air.
- Smart irrigation: The city will use smart irrigation systems that use sensors to optimize water use and minimize waste.
- Renewable energy storage: The city will use advanced energy storage technologies, such as batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, to store renewable energy.
It’s all part of a project called Neom
The Line is part of a broader project known as “Neom”. Neom is a large development project in northwestern Saudi Arabia, spearheaded by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and backed by the Public Investment Fund. The project aims to create a region that will contain multiple cities, resorts, and other developments. It is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan to diversify the country’s economy and reduce its reliance on oil.
Neom covers an area of approximately 10,200 square miles (26,500 square kilometers) and is located between the Red Sea to the south and the Gulf of Aqaba to the west. It is often referred to as a smart city, although it is more accurately described as a region.
Neom will consist of 10 projects referred to as regions. The developer has announced details of four regions so far. These include The Line, which is the most well-known, as well as Oxagon, Trojena, and Sindalah.
The Oxagon project
Oxagon is planned to be an octagon-shaped port city situated on the Red Sea at the southernmost part of the Neom region. The port and logistics hub will be the largest floating structure in the world, according to Neom’s developer.
The Trojena project
Trojena is a ski resort planned to be built in the Sarwat Mountains near the northern part of the Neom region. The ski and outdoor activity resort that will span 60 square kilometers will offer year-round skiing and will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
The Sindalah project
Sindalah is an island resort planned to be situated within the Red Sea, targeted mainly at the yachting community. The 840,000-square-meter island will have an 86-berth marina and numerous hotels.
Is The Line a pipe dream?
Construction has already begun on “The Line,” the flagship project of Saudi Arabia’s Neom megacity. According to new satellite imagery analyzed by Soar, an online digital atlas, the $500bn megacity, is being built right now. The images were taken by CG Satellite, a remote-sensing satellite company in China.
The first image shows the central part of Neom with significant expansion around the main construction base of the project, including several new buildings in the base village. There is excavation activity and ground movement, according to Soar, in comparison to Google Maps satellite imagery taken before the construction when the desert area was untouched. That activity shows the horizontal line footprint of the city. Analysis by Soar suggests this could potentially be deep excavation to prepare access to basement rock in the western areas of the new city.
The new developments pictured in May 2023 include the removal of a tower on a power line in the area, likely part of the new city’s continued expansion.
Will transportation in The Line be a problem?
The concept of mobility raises some questions. A straight line is the most inefficient shape for a city. There are about 50,000 cities in the world, and they are all round in some way, which is not a coincidence.
If two people are randomly selected in The Line, they are an average of 35 miles apart. In Johannesburg, which is 50 times larger in area, two random people are only 20 miles apart. Assuming a walking distance of one kilometer, only 1.2% of the population can walk to each other. This makes it difficult to be active, so people will rely on public transport to get around The Line.
The main transportation method is planned to be a high-speed rail system. However, researchers say at least 86 stations are needed for everyone to be within walking distance of one. As a result, trains will spend a considerable amount of time in stations and will not be able to travel at high speeds between any two stations.
The researchers estimate the average trip to take about 60 minutes, and at least 47% of the population will have an even longer commute. Even with additional express lines, the gains are limited due to the additional transfers that are necessary. The result is that people will still have longer commutes than in other major cities, such as Seoul, where 25 million people commute for less than 50 minutes.
The Line claims the city is designed to reduce travel time. Mixed-use communities are planned to be livable and healthy, with all amenities within a 5-minute walk. The city features invisible infrastructure with sustainable smart technology for utilities and transportation, making it an efficient and low-cost business hub that will attract major companies.
Saudi Arabia The Line picture gallery
The Line infographic library
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Saudi Arabia The Line city via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)Saudi Arabia The Line city via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city interior trees plants via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city boat ship water canal via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city extending into ocean sea via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city glass by Red Sea via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city wide view via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city overview of reflective exterior via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city interior architecture via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city interior city life via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city interior levels with plants and trees via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city interior living pods with sky bridges via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city exterior closeup via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city strategic location infograph via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city view from sky via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city Preserving the environment infographic via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city redefined living infograph via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Saudi Arabia The Line city quick facts infographic via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Neom The Line May 2023 construction progress satellite via Middle East Eye by CG Satellite with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Neom The Line May 2023 construction progress satellite via Middle East Eye by CG Satellite with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
The Line construction progress 10/22/22 via Parametric Architecture by OT Sky with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Neom Oxagon port Saudi Arabia via Neom with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
Neom Trojena ski resort via Neom
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Saudi Arabia The Line city via Neom The Line with usage type - Editorial use (Fair Use)
