is saudi arabia still building THE LINE, its futuristic desert megacity?

Is Saudi Arabia Still Building THE LINE, Its Futuristic Desert Megacity?

THE LINE, a 170-kilometer-long mirrored megacity cutting through the desert, remains central to Saudi Arabia’s evolving architectural plans. Initially celebrated as a groundbreaking twenty-first-century urbanism experiment, it was designed as the core of NEOM, a $500 billion development project in the country’s northwest.

The project promised a car-free, carbon-neutral city enclosed within two parallel walls rising 500 meters high—an ambitious vision now facing significant challenges.

Reassessment of Vision 2030 Projects

Recent reports indicate that Saudi Arabia is reassessing its extensive Vision 2030 portfolio, which includes architectural megaprojects valued at over $1 trillion. Officials have admitted that the rapid pace and high costs of construction have become unsustainable due to falling oil prices and increasing budget deficits.

Scaling Back of THE LINE

Originally planned to span 170 kilometers across the Tabuk desert, THE LINE is reportedly being reduced to just a few miles of initial construction. The government is redirecting resources and adjusting timelines across its development initiatives.

"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 project highlights the balance between visionary architecture and practical economic realities in Saudi Arabia's future development.

Summary: Saudi Arabia’s monumental megacity THE LINE faces scaling back amid budget concerns, reflecting a broader cautious shift in the country's grand Vision 2030 development plans.

Designboom — 2025-11-05