The Line: A Futuristic City in Saudi Arabia

By Kelly Wu

Saudi Arabia’s latest undertaking is a linear skyscraper stretching across 170 kilometers of mountain, desert, and valley landscapes. First proposed by Neom and aptly named The Line, the megacity is intended to “set a new benchmark for combining prosperity, livability, and environmental preservation," according to Tarek Qaddumi, an executive director from Neom's urban planning team. If done right, the city will stand as a pillar of the country’s commitment to eco-consciousness and even serve as a catalyst for more widespread adoption of sustainable architecture and development.

At 200 meters wide, 500 meters above sea level, and built on a footprint of 34 square kilometers, The Line is designed to accommodate at least 9 million people and plans to include sports stadiums, shipping ports, research centers, industrial areas, and an airport. 

Citizens will also live in different “five-minute communities, ” where all necessary facilities are within a 5-minute walking distance. These “five-minute communities” are made possible through The Line’s pedestrian-friendly design, with wide sidewalks, bike lanes, and plenty of green spaces to encourage walking and cycling. Any necessary transportation will be provided by a network of autonomous vehicles, including a high-speed railway with end-to-end transit times of around 20 minutes. This system is intended to reduce citizens’ reliance on cars and promote alternative methods of travel, ultimately aiming to create a more efficient and eco-friendly experience. However, the use of mass transit is only one aspect of Neom’s goal of “zero-emissions” living—Neom plans to power The Line entirely by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, which minimizes its environmental impact and reduces its carbon footprint.

Furthermore, The Line’s climate will also be simulated. According to an interview with Qaddumi, “This combination of a linear and a three-dimensional city will allow for the creation of a microclimate that responds to the prevailing weather conditions. The Line will be self-shading, allowing optimal amounts of light, as well as natural ventilation, enabling the constant cooling of the public realm.” 

Despite the project striving for an emissionless city and a brand-new way of life, however, these ambitions are far from realistic. One obstacle in such plans is just the city’s initial construction, which is estimated to cost around $100-200 billion USD and finish in the year 2030. The design and development of buildings and infrastructure in The Line must be perfectly optimized for energy efficiency in order to minimize energy use and emissions, and in terms of one of the largest, most ambitious projects of the decade, it remains to be seen if—and how—such a feat can be achieved.

Another cause for concern involves the governing of The Line. Neom’s website promises to cater to everyone and include “a proliferation of ideas and inspiration,” but how will this administration work? What exact position does the city take on individual rights, freedoms, diversity, and community? The website does little to answer these questions; instead, it preaches for a vaguely-defined “civilizational revolution” and a “richer human experience.” This does not even consider its future citizens’ opinions on living in such a dystopian area—can simulated weather truly replicate experiencing real outdoor nature? Will people even want to live in tightly packed five-minute communities? 

There is no doubt that Neom has meticulously planned out its post-carbon city to be a source of inspiration for sustainability in years to come, and yet with every new step of its construction, The Line presents us with a countless number of new questions. It is a well-thought-out attempt at solving many of the world’s most glaring issues, but only time will tell whether The Line will be as successful as its creators promise it to be.

Works Cited

Allan, Andrew, and Subha Parida. “What Is The Line, the 170km-Long Mirrored Metropolis Saudi Arabia Is Building in the Desert?” The Conversation, http://theconversation.com/what-is-the-line-the-170km-long-mirrored-metropolis-saudi-arabia-is-building-in-the-desert-188639. Accessed 26 Dec. 2022.

THE LINE. https://www.neom.com/en-us/regions/theline. Accessed 26 Dec. 2022.

“The Line Megacity Will ‘Revolutionise Our Current Way of Life’ Says Neom Director.” Dezeen, 11 Aug. 2022, https://www.dezeen.com/2022/08/11/the-line-megacity-interview-tarek-qaddumi/.