Saudi Arabia’s Line Project Scaled Back Amid Soaring Costs
The construction of The Line, a pioneering vertical city within Saudi Arabia’s Neom mega-development, has drastically slowed. Initially championed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, The Line was planned as a unique linear city stretching across the desert.
Project Vision and Scale
As the focal point of the $500 billion Neom megaproject, The Line was designed to be a 106-mile wall of glass running through the desert. It aimed to be a car-free, climate-controlled city stacked vertically, reaching heights taller than the Empire State Building and connecting the coast to the mountains.
Challenges and Setbacks
- Construction progress has been slow, advancing at a "snail’s pace."
- Costs have surged towards $10 trillion, far exceeding initial estimates.
- Timelines have been extended.
- Expected foreign investment has not met projections.
- At least $50 billion has already been spent, with the desert showing many incomplete structures.
Official Statements on the Project's Future
"The Line is still a strategic priority that will ultimately provide a new blueprint for humanity by changing the way people live."
The project “would be a multi-generational development of unprecedented scale and complexity."
Neom, chaired by the Crown Prince, maintains optimism despite the significant challenges and adjusted scope.
Author’s Summary
The Line, once a revolutionary urban vision, faces major downsizing due to escalating costs and delays, reflecting the immense challenge of realizing such an unprecedented mega-development.