Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, first introduced “The Line” with the help of NEOM in January 2021. This project is described as a linear, one-building city expected to house up to nine million people worldwide while only taking up 13 square miles.
Following its introduction, design plans were released to the public in July 2022, quickly gaining attention from the public and press. Numerous news outlets have deemed “The Line” an ambitious urban development plan due to its unique design.
The overall goal of this project was announced during a press release in July 2022.
“The Line will tackle the challenges facing humanity in urban life today,” said bin Salman. “We cannot ignore the livability and environmental crises facing our world’s cities.”
While excavation has just begun, according to a press release, “The Line” is planned to be a mirrored structure sitting 500 meters above sea level and stretching across 106 miles. With this land-saving design, 95% of this area’s land will be conserved for nature.
Due to the compact size of “The Line,” no roads or cars will be necessary in this city. The creators claim that all daily necessities will be within a five-minute walk. The only other form of transport will be a high-speed rail, taking only 20 minutes to get to each end. With the lack of transportation and NEOM’s commitment to run on 100% renewable energy, the reduction in emissions will be significant.
On top of that, the creators are marketing on the fact they will prioritize the health and well-being of their residents, “unlike traditional cities.” The creators claim that “The Line” will have optimal weather and climate all year round, creating the ideal environment for residents. According to the Arch Paper, “The Line” plans to showcase advanced technology such as an artificial moon, robots, surveillance for security purposes, and even flying cars.
This is destined for a small desert in the northwestern part of the Tabuk Province, located north of the Red Sea.
“The Line” is just one of many projects included in the Saudi Vision 2030 program, which the government initiated in April 2016. The main idea behind the program was to heighten Saudi Arabia’s tourism rates, which would diversify the country’s economy.
While NEOM initially aimed for “The Line” to be finished sometime in 2025, delays have set the finish for a date in 2030.
Although many may see this project as a step in the right direction, “The Line” and its creators have received copious pushback from citizens since the beginning of construction. In July 2020, The Kingdom raised the value-added tax from five percent to 15% to help pay for numerous projects, including “The Line.” This change resulted in what is said to be a rare show of resistance from the citizens in response to how this would negatively affect their livelihoods.
Concerns regarding the land that NEOM is excavating have also risen. Though NEOM’s website claims it’s a “virgin area,” according to a Washington Post article, the land was found to house around 20,000 members of the Huwaitat tribe who are native to the land. In Sept. 2020, the Saudi government began trying to displace this tribe to continue construction on “The Line.”
Many cases have been reported of tribe members being harassed, kidnapped, and even killed at the hands of the Saudi government as punishment for refusing to evacuate, as well as bringing attention to their plight. Ayla Alhwaiti, who represents the Huwaitat tribe from England, urged the United Nations to intervene and help them against the government in Saudi Arabia.
According to Vice News, a year later, in Oct. 2022, three men who were members of the Huwaitat tribe were sentenced to death after refusing to move from the development site.
Saudi Arabia has been scrutinized for its treatment of citizens and history of human rights, making people less likely to get on board with their new take on modern cities. With the ability of this project to house up to nine million people, the question is whether or not all the controversy surrounding this development will affect who is willing to live there.
