Introduction
Saudi Arabia is no stranger to ambitious projects, but “The Line” might just be its boldest bet yet. This 106-mile-long, futuristic city, part of the larger $1 trillion NEOM project, is touted as the epitome of efficiency, sustainability, and urban innovation. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman envisions it as the centerpiece of Vision 2030—a grand attempt to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy beyond oil dependency.
The Line promises zero streets, zero cars, and zero carbon emissions while housing 9 million people in two parallel, 1,640-foot-tall mirrored skyscrapers. It’s a vision that sounds like a sci-fi dream come to life, powered by artificial intelligence, high-speed trains, and climate-controlled comfort. However, beneath its gleaming surface lies a storm of controversy, skepticism, and logistical nightmares.
From human rights violations to engineering impossibilities, The Line faces enormous hurdles. Experts predict that rather than propelling Saudi Arabia into a new era, this project could become its Achilles’ heel. Today, we’ll unravel the promises, pitfalls, and reality behind the hype of this futuristic megacity.
The Grand Vision: A City Unlike Any Other
At its core, The Line is meant to be a radical redefinition of urban living. Designed as two skyscrapers stretching 106 miles across the Saudi desert, just 656 feet apart, this linear city will have:
- A Three-Layered Structure: The top layer for residential areas, the middle layer for utilities and supply chains, and the bottom layer for an ultra-high-speed train system that promises no commute longer than 20 minutes.
- Futuristic Mobility: No cars or streets, only trains and vertical movement through elevators.
- Advanced AI Integration: The entire city will be monitored and optimized using artificial intelligence, with residents being paid for sharing their data.
- Sustainability Claims: The Line is marketed as a zero-carbon city, powered entirely by renewable energy.
- Unmatched Luxury: Plans include floating business parks, artificial ski resorts in the desert, a massive marina, and flying taxis.
If successful, The Line will be one of the tallest structures in the world, visible from space, and a symbol of human ambition. But that’s a big “if.”
The Harsh Reality: Challenges That Can’t Be Ignored
1. The Unforgiving Desert Environment
Saudi Arabia’s desert climate is one of the most extreme in the world. The idea of building a high-tech city in such an environment presents several challenges:
- Heat Reflection: The mirrored surface of The Line may look sleek, but it could significantly increase surrounding temperatures, making outdoor life unbearable.
- Water Scarcity: The city will rely on massive desalination plants, which are energy-intensive and environmentally damaging.
- High Energy Demands: Cooling a 9-million-person city in the desert requires massive amounts of electricity, potentially undermining its zero-carbon claims.
2. Human Rights Violations and Displacement
The cost of The Line isn’t just financial—it’s also human. Around 20,000 members of the Howeitat tribe have been forcibly displaced to make way for the project, leading to protests and even executions.
- Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, a tribal activist, was killed for resisting eviction.
- Three other tribe members have been sentenced to death.
- Amnesty International and the United Nations have condemned Saudi Arabia’s handling of the project.
Despite these concerns, the Saudi government remains firm in pushing forward, prioritizing the project over the well-being of its people.
3. Logistical and Engineering Nightmares
For all its futuristic claims, The Line has fundamental flaws in its design:
- The High-Speed Train Dilemma: The city’s entire transport system depends on a train capable of covering 106 miles in 20 minutes. This would require a speed of 316 mph (510 km/h)—faster than any existing commercial train.
- Limited Accessibility: A linear city means people in the middle must travel long distances to reach the ends, making the “5-minute city” concept impractical.
- Building in a Straight Line: Nature doesn’t conform to straight lines. Ignoring the region’s natural topography could lead to engineering failures.
4. The Environmental Cost
Despite claims of sustainability, The Line’s construction will generate a staggering 1.8 billion tons of CO₂, exceeding the UK’s annual emissions. Other environmental concerns include:
- Massive Carbon Footprint: The extensive use of steel, concrete, and glass contradicts its eco-friendly promises.
- Wildlife Disruption: The mirrored walls pose a deadly threat to migratory birds, while its rigid design will disrupt natural animal corridors.
- Desalination Issues: The brine waste from desalination plants could destroy marine ecosystems.
5. Economic Feasibility and Investor Doubt
The Line’s $1 trillion price tag is daunting, especially given Saudi Arabia’s declining oil revenue and increasing public debt. Even the Saudi Public Investment Fund, managing $925 billion, may struggle to sustain such a project.
To fund NEOM, Saudi Arabia has:
- Tripled its Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5% to 15%, leading some Saudis to call it the “NEOM Tax.”
- Forced wealthy Saudis to invest in the project, just as it did with ARAMCO’s IPO.
- Borrowed heavily, leading to a drop in sovereign wealth fund cash reserves to $15 billion, the lowest since 2020.
If The Line fails, it could cripple the Saudi economy and shake investor confidence beyond repair.
Past Megaproject Failures: A Cautionary Tale
History is littered with grand projects that failed spectacularly, often leaving nations worse off:
- King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Saudi Arabia – Launched in 2005, expected to house 2 million by 2035. Today, it has only 7,000 residents.
- Burj Al Babas, Turkey – A luxury ghost town of 587 abandoned castles.
- Paradise City, Iran – Built for 1 million people, now an empty shell in the desert.
- China’s Ghost Cities – Over 60 million unsold apartments, a $41 billion bailout required.
The Line is shaping up to be another entry in this list of costly mistakes.
Conclusion: A Pyrrhic Victory at Best
Saudi Arabia is at a crossroads. If The Line succeeds, it will be a monumental achievement, but the cost—financial, environmental, and human—will be astronomical. If it fails, it could bring economic disaster and political instability.
The project has already been quietly scaled down to just 1.5 miles, despite Saudi officials denying any major changes. Whether it continues at full scale or gets trimmed further, one thing is clear—The Line is not the utopia it claims to be.
Saudi Arabia’s leadership now faces an impossible choice: continue pouring resources into a likely failure, or abandon it and face the political fallout. Either way, The Line is proving to be more of a burden than a blessing.
One has to wonder: Is The Line truly the future, or just an expensive mirage in the desert?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is The Line?
The Line is a 106-mile-long, zero-carbon, linear city planned as part of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project.
2. How many people will live in The Line?
The original plan was for 9 million residents, but recent reports suggest major downsizing.
3. How will The Line be powered?
Saudi Arabia claims it will use 100% renewable energy, but experts question whether this is feasible.
4. Why is The Line controversial?
Concerns include human rights violations, economic feasibility, environmental destruction, and engineering impracticalities.
5. Is The Line still being built?
Yes, but reports indicate significant downsizing, contradicting official statements.
