Image Courtesy: Fast Company
Saudi Arabia has reportedly paused major construction work on The Line, the centerpiece megacity project of its Vision 2030 initiative, as the kingdom shifts focus toward more economically viable developments.
Originally unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a futuristic urban corridor stretching 105 miles across the desert, The Line was designed to house up to nine million residents inside two mirrored structures standing more than 1,600 feet tall. The ambitious project quickly became one of the world’s most closely watched mega-developments. Recent strategic reviews, however, have led to significant downsizing and delays.
The Line was launched as a flagship component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, a national strategy aimed at diversifying the country’s economy beyond oil. Supporters promoted the project as a revolutionary model for sustainable urban living, featuring high-density development, advanced transportation systems, and a car-free design.
Critics, however, questioned whether the concept was practical from both an engineering and economic perspective. Concerns centered on the unprecedented scale of the project, the challenges of constructing and maintaining a linear city in a remote desert environment, and the enormous financial resources required to complete it.
Those concerns intensified as costs continued to rise. Reports cited in the review suggested the project’s long-term price tag could exceed $1 trillion, while some internal estimates reportedly placed the figure much higher. Saudi officials have since emphasized that future investments must deliver measurable economic returns rather than rely solely on ambitious long-term visions.
As priorities shift, attention is moving toward Oxagon, a coastal industrial and logistics hub on the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia plans to continue investing in the development, which is expected to support manufacturing, trade, and artificial intelligence infrastructure, including data centers that benefit from access to coastal resources.
Other major Neom projects have also faced delays. Several planned tourism developments have reportedly been pushed beyond 2030, while investment in the Trojena mountain resort is expected to be deferred until the next decade.
Despite the setbacks, Saudi officials maintain that Vision 2030 remains on track overall. The kingdom continues to prepare for major international events, including Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, while reassessing which large-scale projects offer the strongest economic benefits.
