Is the Line, Saudi Arabia Feasible?

The line, built within Neom, is a major developmental project proposed in 2017 in Saudi Arabia that will house 300,000 people. The purpose of this project is part of a larger goal to shift the reliance of the country’s oil-based economy to a tourist-focused one as the availability of fossil fuels reduces. The line will have a length of 170km, a height of 500m, and a width of 200m, and will become an “air-conditioned city of around 300,000 people”[Williams, 2024] and include a mirrored exterior. Additionally, The Line aims to involve smart technology where AI will be used and surveillance to ensure that everything is running smoothly by its 2030 date. Many are hopeful that The Line will promote a new perspective on cities and revolutionise how cities are built. 

Image courtesy of NEOM, published by Archinect.com 

The Line will effectively tackle Saudi Arabia’s ever-present environmental issues, as they aim to use 100% clean energy, reduce the use of fossil fuels as explained, and improve air quality. Furthermore, there will be no roads or cars because the public transportation system will be reliable, clean, and efficient, with “no pollution and no wait times” [Williams, 2024]. The economic impacts are considerable because the project will positively affect Saudi Arabia’s GDP, as “The economic activity within the project could contribute up to $48 billion by 2030”[Case Study: Neom, n.d]. Furthermore, the generation of this money can be used to promote tourism, as well as pay the 100,000 workers who are digging the foundations of the project.

However, this project has more criticism than approval due to the innumerable negative ways that people within Saudi Arabia are affected. In terms of social well-being, the space used to create the city has displaced as many as three villages where schools and hospitals were built, as well as harmed indigenous tribes such as the Howeitat people. Many of these people are already living in hard conditions, and the construction of The Line has worsened their circumstances. Critics also argue that The Line will only serve the rich within the country because of the cost of living and other expenses, which are largely unfordable. Other economic impacts can be seen in the construction costs, which can cost up to $1.5 trillion, instead, these funds could be used to promote a greener future within Saudi Arabia’s current cities rather than creating a new one, or increase the supply of houses to keep up with demand. Many also have criticised the infrastructure around the line because a line is the least efficient shape for a city. After all, there is a reason why most cities have a round-like look. 

Many of these criticisms have been heard, and as of 2024, the scale of the project has been reduced. According to The Guardian, the size of the project has been used to 98.6% of its original size, being one mile. This is a result of outside criticism of the project, the human rights issues that the UN said potentially violate international rights, and the funding problems from investors, for instance. The project was highly ambitious and unfeasible in the first place. However, it was a good attempt to change the look of cities and can serve as a lesson of what not to do for mega projects. 

Bibliography 

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https://newatlas.com/architecture/line-saudi-arabia-neom-construction-update/ [Accessed 30 Dec. 2024]. 

Misk Foundation. (2017). Case Study: NEOM - Catalyst for Progress and Its Economic Impact on the Kingdom. [online] Available at: 

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Moore, R. (2024). Saudi Arabia’s 105-mile long Line city has been cut a little short – by 103.5 miles. The Observer. [online] 20 Apr. Available at: 

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https://csh.ac.at/news/why-saudi-arabias-the-line-is-not-a-revolution-in-urban-living/ [Accessed 30 Dec. 2024]. 

Schulman, P. (n.d.). Saudi Arabia’s The Line Drastically Scales Back Its Ambitions | Architectural Record. [online] www.architecturalrecord.com. Available at: https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/16851-saudi-arabias-the-line-drastically-scales-bac k-its-ambitions [Accessed 30 Dec. 2024]. 

Thomas, M. and El Gibaly, L. (2024). Neom: Saudi forces ‘told to kill’ to clear land for eco-city. www.bbc.com. [online] 9 May. Available at: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68945445 [Accessed 30 Dec. 2024].