Saudi Arabia’s futuristic megacity project, The Line, a centerpiece of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 policy, is facing mounting financial, engineering, and logistical obstacles that threaten its completion.
The 170-kilometer linear city was designed as a zero-carbon community for nine million residents, but recent reports and industry assessments suggest the ambitious plan may need significant revisions—or risk never being completed at all.
Saudi Arabia’s ‘The Line’ Hits a Major Roadblock
| Key Fact | Detail / Data |
|---|---|
| Total Planned Length | 170 km across the Neom region |
| Construction Progress | Approx. 2.4 km of structural work completed |
| Estimated Cost | Up to $1 trillion total investment |
| Project Revision | Scale may shrink to less than 3 km by 2030 |
| Target Population | 9 million residents |
What Is The Line? The Vision Behind the Megacity
Unveiled in 2021, The Line was pitched as a groundbreaking model for future cities—compact, emissions-free, and powered by renewable energy. According to official Neom documentation, the city would eliminate traditional roads and cars, instead using high-speed transit systems to move residents efficiently between vertically arranged neighborhoods.
Saudi officials described the project as an answer to urban sprawl and environmental degradation. “We want to build something completely different—something that prioritizes people over cars,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an official 2022 promotional announcement.
The Line is designed to be a flagship project within Neom, the kingdom’s $500-billion development zone aimed at transforming the desert into a global innovation hub for technology, biotech, and renewable energy. But while the idea captured global attention, its execution has proven far more complicated.
Why The Line Is Facing Major Roadblocks
1. Escalating Costs and Slower-Than-Expected Investment
The scale of the project carries massive financial risk. Although the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia is financing much of Neom, early estimates of $500 billion have ballooned. Analysts at Goldman Sachs and Kearney suggest the total could exceed $1 trillion if built to its original specifications.
Foreign investment—an essential component of Saudi Arabia’s diversification strategy—has fallen short of expectations. According to Reuters reporting, only a modest percentage of targeted international funding has materialized, partly due to global economic uncertainty, rising interest rates, and investor caution regarding megaproject feasibility.
A former project adviser quoted by The Wall Street Journal characterized the financial challenge bluntly:
“You can build anything with enough money. The question is whether you can build this and still call it economically rational.”
2. Engineering Complexities Unprecedented in Modern Construction
At 500 meters tall and 200 meters wide, the mirrored structures planned for The Line would be among the largest and most continuous architectural forms ever attempted. Specialists in high-rise engineering note several key challenges:
- Extreme desert temperatures affecting steel expansion
- High wind loads across a long, uninterrupted surface
- Dust storms impacting mirrored façades
- Complex foundation requirements across shifting desert terrain
Dr. Elena Marcovic, a civil engineering professor at the University of Toronto, explained in an interview with the BBC:
“The design is innovative, but scaling it across 170 kilometers introduces structural risks that we have not previously modeled at this magnitude.”
Several engineers familiar with the project told Reuters that iterative redesigns have contributed to delays and cost increases.
Environmental and Social Concerns Add Pressure
Disruption of Ecosystems and Migration Routes
Environmental researchers have raised red flags about the ecological footprint of a mirrored, wall-like megastructure cutting across diverse desert habitats. The area around Neom includes migration paths for wild animals and sensitive coastal ecosystems along the Red Sea.
According to environmental impact documents reviewed by The Guardian, concerns include:
- Fragmentation of wildlife corridors
- Heat reflection impacting local flora
- Construction-related carbon emissions
- Water resource strain in an arid region
Neom leadership insists that sustainability remains central to the project. However, independent scientists argue that **“zero-carbon operation” does not mean “zero-impact construction.”
Displacement of Local Communities
International human rights groups have documented concerns about the relocation of the Huwaitat tribe, whose ancestral lands overlap parts of the Neom development zone. Saudi authorities maintain that all relocations follow legal procedures and provide compensation. Still, rights organizations like Amnesty International have urged additional transparency.
A Scaled-Down Version May Be Emerging
In early 2024, The Guardian reported that internal projections now envision a much smaller initial build—possibly fewer than 3 kilometers completed by 2030. While not confirmed by the Saudi government, the report aligns with independent assessments showing limited construction activity outside core development nodes.
This potential downsizing does not necessarily signal the end of the project. Rather, experts suggest it reflects a “modular” approach—building manageable segments first, then expanding over decades instead of years.
Urban economist Dr. Kareem Al-Harthy noted in a Brookings Institution briefing:
“Megaprojects evolve. Very few are built exactly as announced. What matters is whether the scaled model remains functional and economically viable.”
Impact on Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s Regional Strategy
The Stakes for the Kingdom’s Economic Transformation
The Line is a central pillar of Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil by expanding tourism, technology, and knowledge-based industries. Delays could complicate the kingdom’s attempt to signal confidence to global investors.
Still, Vision 2030 includes dozens of large-scale initiatives, and analysts emphasize that Neom—while symbolic—is not the sole engine of the strategy.
Industry analyst Sarah Mitchell of Chatham House explained:
“Even if The Line is scaled down, the broader Neom ecosystem—renewables, biotech, tourism zones—can still attract investment. But the optics of delay matter for the kingdom’s credibility.”
Competition with Regional Megaprojects
Saudi Arabia is racing against rapid developments in:
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- Qatar’s investment in tech and green energy
- Egypt’s new administrative capital
A visible slowdown in The Line could shift momentum toward neighboring competitors in the Gulf.
Official Responses and Continuing Construction
Despite scrutiny, Saudi officials maintain that The Line remains a long-term national priority. Recent statements from Neom representatives emphasize continued construction, active contract awards, and sustained hiring of international engineers and architects. In a November 2024 Reuters report, a Neom spokesperson stated:
“The vision for The Line remains unchanged. As with any megaproject of this scale, timelines and sequences evolve, but we are committed to delivering a global model for future cities.”
Industry observers argue that transparency is improving but still limited. Independent on-the-ground verification of project progress remains restricted, making it difficult to assess true construction momentum.
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What Comes Next?
Even with delays, The Line remains one of the world’s boldest urban experiments. While the full vision may not be realized soon—if ever—many of the technologies and planning concepts pioneered for the project could influence future cities.
Urban planning specialists argue that the ultimate value of The Line may lie less in its physical form and more in the research and innovation it catalyzes.
The closing view among many analysts is that Saudi Arabia will continue pushing forward with a revised or phased version of the project. Whether the final result resembles the original 170-kilometer mirrored megacity remains uncertain.
As construction continues at a slower pace, Saudi Arabia faces the challenge of balancing its ambitious vision with practical realities. The coming years will determine whether The Line becomes a transformative symbol of the kingdom’s future—or a cautionary tale about the limits of ultra-large megaprojects in a rapidly changing world.
FAQ About Saudi Arabia’s ‘The Line’ Hits a Major Roadblock
1. What is the purpose of The Line?
The Line is intended to serve as a zero-carbon, high-density city powered by renewable energy within Saudi Arabia’s Neom development.
2. How long will The Line be?
The original plan called for 170 kilometers, though recent reports suggest the first built segment may be less than 3 kilometers.
3. Will The Line still be completed?
Construction continues, but experts believe the project will be significantly scaled down or built over several decades instead of by 2030.
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