Brief Overview of the Project

Neom is an ambitious Saudi megaproject — a futuristic city being built in the northwestern desert along the Red Sea — and is a central part of the Vision 2030 strategy aimed at modernizing and diversifying the country’s economy. Its main component, called The Line, represents a revolutionary concept of a linear city that is intended to redefine the notion of urban life in the 21st century. According to initial plans, The Line will stretch 170 km from the coast to the mountains, in the form of two parallel buildings about 500 m high and only 200 m wide, connected into a continuous megacity with mirror-like facades. In this narrow space, as many as 9 million residents are planned to live, in a completely integrated environment without cars and with zero harmful gas emissions.

The investment value of Neom is estimated at at least USD 500 billion, with some reports suggesting that the final cost could reach around one trillion USD. The project is financed by the state investment fund. The vision of Neom is to create a high-tech economic and tourist hub that will attract global talent and investments, helping the kingdom reduce its dependence on oil. The Line is promoted as a “city of the future” that will offer an unprecedented quality of life, combining luxury, sustainability, and innovation, through which Saudi Arabia seeks to position itself as a leader in global urban development.

Current Construction Status and Challenges

Construction work on The Line began in 2021, when the first massive excavations for the foundations were carried out along the planned route. The initial goal was for the first residents to arrive by 2025, with the first phase of construction completed by 2030, and the entire city by 2045. However, during 2023, it became clear that the project was facing serious challenges. Due to enormous costs, technical complexity, and slowed investment inflows, Saudi authorities decided to slow down implementation and reduce the initial project scope. A senior official admitted that they had “spent too much” and that it was necessary to “reallocate priorities.”

Instead of the entire 170 km, The Line will initially be built over a smaller segment (of only a few kilometers), designed to house about 300,000 residents as a pilot project to prove the concept. This course correction allows focus on the most important sections and detailed engineering planning for the first phase, with more rational spending. Meanwhile, other parts of Neom have gained greater significance — for example, the mountain resort Trojena (planned to host the 2029 Winter Games) is being built at a rapid pace, while The Line is undergoing a thorough revision of plans before large-scale construction continues.

Technological and Environmental Innovations

The Line is envisioned as a smart city without cars or traditional streets. Transportation will take place via a high-speed underground railway, connecting one end of the city to the other in about 20 minutes. The complete infrastructure will consist of vertically stacked levels: the surface level for pedestrians and daily activities, and two underground levels — one for utilities and the other for transport. Thanks to this design, all daily amenities will be accessible within five minutes on foot from residential areas. The city is planned to be powered entirely by 100% renewable energy, with zero carbon dioxide emissions. Artificial intelligence systems will monitor energy use, water, and traffic, optimizing city operations in real time.

Sustainable development lies at the core of this vision. The ultra-compact form of The Line means that up to 95% of the surrounding land will remain untouched nature. The two mirror-clad megastructures are designed to create a microclimate within the urban space, featuring abundant green areas and natural ventilation that will ensure a pleasant climate throughout the year. In addition, Neom is investing in advanced green technologies — such as one of the world’s largest green hydrogen plants — to ensure that the project’s energy and environmental goals are achieved in practice.

The Role of Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally initiated and conceptualized the Neom project. The Line reflects his vision of transforming Saudi Arabia from an oil-dependent economy into a high-tech, innovative society. The project is an integral part of the Vision 2030 program, which aims to develop new industries (such as tourism and technology) and reduce reliance on oil revenues. MBS presented The Line as a response to the challenges of modern cities and proclaimed that it would be “the best city to live in the world” thanks to an entirely new approach to urbanism. He emphasized that since Saudi Arabia is building ex nihilo, it should not copy existing cities but create something original and bold.

Neom also carries symbolic significance for MBS’s rule. The prince declared that the kingdom needs a project equivalent to building “new pyramids” — something that future generations will remember and that the world will recognize as a Saudi mark of modernity. Therefore, within the country, this megaproject is presented with pride and optimism, while challenges are portrayed as temporary obstacles on the path toward the goal. It is believed that the fate of The Line is closely tied to the success of Vision 2030 itself. Despite skeptics, the prince remains persistent: he is adjusting plans but not abandoning the goal of turning Neom and The Line into reality, seeing in them both a means and a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s modernization in this decade.

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