Saudi Arabia to Scale Back The Line Megacity Project
Saudi Arabia is reportedly downsizing its ambitious plan to build The Line, a 170km-long megacity, according to recent reports.
Originally envisioned as a city housing nine million people with a cost of $1.5 trillion, The Line is now expected to cover just 2.4km and accommodate approximately 300,000 residents by 2030.
Bloomberg has reviewed documents indicating this reduction in scope, which comes amid uncertainties surrounding the approval of the 2024 budget for the Neom economic zone. While the project was always intended to be developed in phases, this new target signifies a significant shift from the initial timeline.
The Line is part of a series of ambitious megaprojects in Saudi Arabia, particularly within the Neom zone. The original design featured a glass-walled city, only a few hundred meters wide, spanning 13 square miles and connected by a high-speed rail line.
The scaling back of the project has led to some contractors laying off workers, as reported by Bloomberg. This adjustment reflects broader challenges within Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation under Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on oil.
For more on Saudi Arabia’s major construction undertakings, check out International Construction’s overview of 17 of the Kingdom’s largest mega projects.
