MEGACITY project The Line will be a car-free, three-dimensional and high-density metropolis that challenges conventional urban planning, according to a top boss on the build.
Neom Chief Development Officer Denis Hickey shed light on Saudi Arabia’s crown jewel construction and what life would be like living inside the revolutionary urban environment.
x/@NEOMThe Line, a revolutionary megacity, is being constructed in Saudi Arabia[/caption]
NEOMThe interior will be a “three-dimensional” canyon featuring vertical and horizontal movement[/caption]
x/@NEOMNeom Chief Development Officer Denis Hickey announced the details in a talk at the World Economic Forum[/caption]
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the boss offered an in-depth look at some of the details of the city such as its “innovative transport network”, and the ability to move not only horizontally but vertically.
Hickey said: “The Line is not just about compact urban living; it’s about redefining city life to prioritise human well-being over congestion.”
The boss explained that instead of sprawling neighbourhoods, the city will be a linear, vertical “landscraper” structure with modular sections stacked on top of one another to maximise space efficiency.
He continued: “Everything you need will be within a five-minute walk… schools, restaurants, workplaces, hospitals, and entertainment venues will all be immediately accessible without the need for a car.”
The megaproject will be 500 metres tall, and create a canyon-like structure allowing residents to move upwards, downwards and sideways easily.
In a blow to motorheads, cars will not feature at all in the city in an attempt to reduce pollution – instead a high-speed transport system will take its place.
Hickey added: “Urban sprawl is outdated – we are moving beyond the old way of expanding cities by simply adding more roads.
“The Line will be the world’s first major city built without cars. Residents will travel via a high-speed underground rail network, general mass transit, and rapid vertical transportation.”
But the boss assured potential residents that the average commute within the whole city would be under 20 minutes from “anywhere inside The Line”.
AFPThe city will feature no cars, only high-speed transport that will take a maximum of 20 minutes to get anywhere[/caption]
x/@NEOMThe project is being developed in Neom, a region in Saudi Arabia where several other revolutionary structures are being built[/caption]
Neom Stadium, created to attract diverse cultures, will be situated more than 350 meters above ground
One huge part of the project, which could attract Brits, is an ambitious futuristic football stadium, designed to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
“This will be a stadium like nothing seen before,” Hickey said. “The playing field will sit at the height of the Empire State Building, giving fans a completely new way to experience games—suspended in the sky with breathtaking views of the city.”
The stadium aims to broaden the spectrum of culture within the city and integrate different types of entertainment into the society.
The Line will also not be exclusive based on wealth, and targets a broad range of income levels, according to Hickey..
He said: “This is not Billionaires’ Row.
“We are designing a city where everyone, regardless of income level, has equal access to world-class urban living.
“In most cities, if you don’t live near the park or downtown, you miss out on the best amenities.
“In The LINE, every resident will have immediate access to green spaces, infrastructure, and cultural landmarks.”
Top 5 blunders plaguing NEOM project
BY Juliana Cruz Lima, Foreign News Reporter
Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project, despite its ambitious vision, has been criticized for several major blunders that have raised concerns about its feasibility, ethics, and overall execution.
Here are the top five major blunders associated with the project:
Forced Displacement of Indigenous Communities: One of the most significant controversies surrounding NEOM is the forced displacement of the Huwaitat tribe.
This indigenous community, which has lived in the area for centuries, was forcibly removed from their ancestral lands to make way for the development of the mega-city.
The Saudi government’s crackdown on those who resisted, including the killing of a tribal leader, Abdul Rahim al-Howeiti, has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organisations.
This blunder not only sparked international outrage but also tainted NEOM’s image as a forward-thinking, humane project.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability Concerns: NEOM has been marketed as an environmentally sustainable city, but the environmental impact of such a massive development is a major concern.
The project’s scale—covering over 26,500 square kilometers—poses significant risks to local ecosystems, particularly in the Red Sea, which is home to rich marine biodiversity.
Critics argue that the construction of artificial islands and extensive urbanisation could lead to irreversible ecological damage.
The enormous water and energy demands required to maintain a green city in the desert also raise questions about the project’s sustainability.
Economic Viability and Cost Overruns: NEOM is one of the most expensive development projects in history.
But there are serious doubts about its economic viability. Critics question whether the project can attract the necessary foreign investment and whether it will generate sufficient returns to justify the enormous expenditure.
The economic risks are further compounded by potential cost overruns and delays, which are common in megaprojects of this scale.
This financial gamble has led some to worry that NEOM could become a costly white elephant if it fails to meet its ambitious goals.
Technological Overreach and Ethical Concerns: NEOM is envisioned as a high-tech city, heavily reliant on artificial intelligence, robotics, and extensive surveillance systems.
While this technological ambition is central to NEOM’s identity, it also raises significant ethical concerns. The level of surveillance planned for the city could lead to unprecedented control over residents’ lives, sparking fears about privacy and civil liberties.
The lack of transparency about how AI will be used, coupled with concerns about job displacement, has also led to criticism that NEOM’s technological vision may be more dystopian than utopian.
Cultural and Social Disconnect: NEOM’s vision of a futuristic, liberalized society clashes sharply with Saudi Arabia’s deeply conservative cultural norms.
The project plans to introduce mixed-gender sports, entertainment events, and other liberal lifestyle elements that are rare in the kingdom.
This cultural shift has raised concerns about a potential clash between NEOM’s globalised vision and the traditional values of Saudi society.
The disconnect between the project’s ambitions and the broader cultural context has led to skepticism about whether NEOM can truly integrate into Saudi Arabia’s social fabric without causing significant friction.
By Juliana Cruz Lima, Foreign News Reporter
The first part of the project, Hidden Marina, is set to house over 200,000 people, with essential infrastructure such as schools, places of worship, police and hospitals all seamlessly integrated into the urban area.
The revelations come as Saudi Arabia last year announced that the megacity won’t actually be ready for another 50 years.
The £1trillion project was originally supposed to be part of the country’s Vision 2030 plan, but it has been majorly pushed back, and only 1% of it will be completed by the end of this decade.
Saudi Arabia’s project has also been criticised for several major blunders that have raised concerns about its feasibility, ethics, and overall execution.
In 2024, an ITV documentary revealed that 21,000 workers had died working in the country since Vision 2030 was announced in 2016.
Neom, which includes The Line, is the project’s flagship build.
Hickey ended the talk by reaffirming that The Line is under construction and is not “science fiction”.
“The Line is becoming a reality,” he said.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman hoped construction would be completed by 2030
Giles Pendleton FRICSAerial pics show the incomplete Line project[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
