In Saudi Arabia, an architectural and urban revolution is rising one that might redefine how we live, move, and interact within cities. Called The Line, this visionary megacity is no longer just a bold concept on blueprints. It’s steadily taking physical form, promising a radical shift in city living for up to nine million people.
Imagine two towering mirrors of glass and steel each 500 meters high, running side by side for over 120 kilometers, and spaced 200 meters apart. Due to a slight stagger in the layout, the full extent of the city stretches around 170 kilometers. This isn’t science fiction it’s the structural blueprint for The Line, a core part of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious NEOM project.
Designed to compress all facets of urban life into a single vertical corridor, The Line aims to put everything within a five-minute walk homes, workplaces, schools, parks, and shops. Transportation across this linear city will be managed by a high-speed metro, making travel from end to end possible in just 20 minutes.
But it’s not just about convenience it’s about transformation. The entire city is planned to operate on renewable energy and generate zero carbon emissions, positioning The Line as a symbol of climate-conscious progress. As urban sprawl continues to choke traditional cities, this hyper-dense, ultra-efficient model is pitched as a revolutionary solution.
With a price range between $200 billion and $1 trillion, The Line is more than a city it’s an investment in a new societal template. Its estimated completion by 2045 reflects both the ambition and complexity of building a city from scratch in the desert especially one that defies every conventional rule of city planning.
Traditional cities have expanded outward, creating long commutes, traffic congestion, and strained resources. In contrast, The Line proposes a streamlined, vertical alternative, where everything is stacked and interconnected to eliminate inefficiencies.
As the original article put it, “The Line is a radical departure from traditional city planning.” This shift isn’t just architectural it’s philosophical. The Line represents a challenge to the status quo, where urban life, environmental responsibility, and futuristic design are meant to coexist in perfect harmony.
However, not everyone is applauding. Despite the project’s lofty ideals, serious criticisms have emerged particularly from environmentalists and human rights advocates.
One major concern is the disruption of wildlife migration patterns. The massive mirrored structure could obstruct birds and desert animals from crossing their natural habitats, potentially causing long-term ecological damage.
Even more pressing are the social consequences. Up to 20,000 members of the Howeitat tribe are reportedly being displaced to make way for The Line. The controversy intensified following the death of Abdul-Rahim Al Huwaiti, a tribal activist who was shot in 2020 after publicly protesting the forced relocations. While the project was officially launched in 2021, there are allegations that groundwork had begun even earlier, without transparent communication or consent from local residents.
These issues have cast a shadow over what is being promoted as a utopian vision, highlighting the ethical tensions between progress and preservation.
Despite the controversies, construction is forging ahead, and The Line remains a central feature of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan. Its ultimate success, however, will hinge not just on engineering and technology, but on how it addresses the very human and environmental costs of its development.
