At first, The Line was seen as a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, with plans to build a 170-kilometer city in the desert, free from cars and powered by clean energy for 9 million residents. Thanks to the kingdom’s oil wealth, the megaproject aimed to become a worldwide example of sustainable city living. However, almost a decade after its introduction, the results are much less impressive than promised.
The Line is now expected to have just 300,000 residents by 2030, according to new estimates. Even more surprising, only 1.4% of the planned length, or 2.4 kilometers, is expected to be built by that time. Mounting construction delays, budget constraints, and workforce reductions have raised serious doubts about the project’s feasibility.
Saudi Arabia is now trying to win over China to support its struggling business. The project has been presented in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong to find investors and support for the Neom development zone. There is interest in China, but doubts still linger. The project’s colossal scope and uncertain returns give pause even to investors familiar with vast infrastructure efforts.
There are other, more important questions that need to be addressed. Is it possible for a big, straight-lined city to operate in the desert’s difficult climate? Will the project be both socially and ecologically sustainable, or will it never leave the drawing board?
Compounding concerns is Riyadh’s silence. Not being open about delays and reduced goals has made people more doubtful. With the world’s economies changing and energy changes happening faster, Saudi Arabia could reconsider its approach to mega-projects.
Could this mark a shift toward urban projects that are both realistic and can be expanded? Could it just be a short-lived problem for a bold new approach to city living?
