The Saudi NEOM Project – a Futuristic City That Was Meant to Change Everything
The Saudi NEOM Project – Where Did the Idea Come From?
Vision 2030 and the Need to Move Beyond Oil
The Saudi NEOM project did not emerge out of nowhere. Above all, it is a direct result of the Saudi Vision 2030 program announced in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The plan had one primary objective: to prepare Saudi Arabia for a world beyond oil.
This is an ambitious goal, given that the oil sector had for decades formed the foundation of the Saudi economy, public finances, and political stability. At the same time, Vision 2030 assumes the diversification of revenue sources and the development of industry, technology, tourism, and modern services. This is precisely why NEOM was intended to become a symbol of that transformation and proof that the country is capable of long-term thinking.
In the narrative of the Saudi authorities, the NEOM project is therefore not a luxury whim, but a necessity. On the one hand, it is meant to attract investors, foreign capital, and know-how; on the other, to create new jobs for a young society. As a result, at least in theory, it appears to be a logical response to the looming crisis of an oil-based economic model.
Why the Desert by the Red Sea?
The location of NEOM is not accidental. First, the area along the Red Sea, near the borders with Jordan and Egypt, offers access to one of the world’s key global trade routes. Second, it is a relatively sparsely populated region, which in the eyes of decision-makers makes it easier to develop a megaproject from the ground up.
Access to the sea enables the development of ports, seawater desalination, and logistics on a global scale. Moreover, proximity to Africa, Europe, and Asia aligns with the ambition to create a new trade and industrial hub. It is precisely in this context that Oxagon, the port-focused part of NEOM, emerged as a direct result of this strategic calculation.
At the same time, the desert landscape became an important element of the narrative. On the one hand, building a futuristic city in one of the harshest environments on Earth was meant to highlight the state’s technological capabilities. On the other hand, in practical terms, it meant confronting climate challenges, water scarcity, and extreme temperatures.
From Science Fiction to a Political Priority
The initial visions of NEOM resembled scenes from science fiction films. Flying taxis, an artificial moon, or cities without roads and cars were meant to symbolize a radical break from traditional models of urban development. It is therefore no surprise that these images quickly spread worldwide and became the project’s most recognizable media signature.
Over time, however, the Saudi NEOM project ceased to be merely a futuristic story. It was gradually embedded in official state documents, and its implementation was entrusted to the Public Investment Fund. As a result, the project gained strategic status, and criticism increasingly began to be treated as a political threat.
This was the moment when vision turned into obligation. From then on, NEOM became a prestige project, closely tied to the image of the crown prince. As a result, it was no longer solely about urban planning or innovation, but above all about proving that the state could impose its own definition of the future on the world.
The Line – the Heart and Symbol of the Saudi NEOM Project
A City Without Roads, Powered 100% by Renewable Energy
From the very beginning, The Line was meant to be the most radical element of the Saudi NEOM project. Above all, it was announced as a city completely free of roads and cars. Instead, residents were supposed to move on foot, by bicycle, and via autonomous public transport.
Crucially, the entire infrastructure was intended to be powered entirely by renewable energy. According to official declarations, solar, wind, and hydrogen energy were to create a closed, zero-emission ecosystem. In this way, The Line was meant to become a model city of the future, free from smog and noise.
At the same time, the project assumed full integration of digital technologies. In practice, this meant ubiquitous artificial intelligence, predictive systems, and automated public services. As a result, the city was supposed to respond to residents’ needs almost in real time.
A 170-Kilometer Linear Metropolis – What Life Inside Was Supposed to Look Like
The vision of The Line assumed the construction of two parallel, mirrored structures stretching over 170 kilometers. Moreover, their width was to be only 200 meters, while their height would reach 500 meters. In doing so, classical urban planning was replaced by the concept of a vertical city.
Everyday life was meant to be based on the idea of a five-minute city. This meant that schools, clinics, shops, and green spaces would all be within a short walking distance. At the same time, high-speed rail was supposed to allow travel across the entire length of the city in around 20 minutes.
Inside the structure, multi-level districts were planned, arranged in layers. On the one hand, this was intended to increase urban density; on the other, to limit the city’s expansion into the surrounding environment. In theory, it was a solution that was both ecological and functional.
When Vision Collides with Physics, Logistics, and Costs
Over time, however, serious doubts began to emerge. Above all, the scale of the project started to clash with basic laws of physics and engineering. A structure 500 meters high and stretching for 170 kilometers would require quantities of steel and concrete that significantly exceeded global production capacities.
Moreover, the costs of the project grew at a pace that was difficult to control. According to estimates, the total budget of The Line could reach trillions of dollars. As a consequence, foreign investors began to withdraw their funding, and the pace of construction clearly slowed.
The problems also concerned logistics and the city’s day-to-day operation. For example, transporting construction materials would require near-continuous deliveries, around the clock. In addition, questions arose about access to natural daylight, fire safety, and the evacuation of residents.
As a result, the original plans began to be gradually scaled back. Instead of the twenty modules announced for the first phase, discussion shifted to just a few. Therefore, The Line is increasingly seen not as a finished project, but as an extremely costly experiment at the very edge of feasibility.