Saudi Arabia really likes to try and prove that bigger is better, with its $1.5 trillion NEOM project continuing to expand at an exponential rate.
Launched by crown prince Mohammad bin Salman 2017, the NEOM project includes nine regions and will span a jaw-dropping 26,500 km2 (10,200 sq mi). From tourist hubs to whole cities powered by renewable energy sources, NEOM's costs have already soared. While it's fallen behind schedule amidst reports it's been 'scaled back', Saudi Arabia is powering forward with its grand plans.
Now, someone has snapped an aerial view of the linear smart city known as The Line. Under construction in the Tabuk Province, The Line is tipped to have no cars, carbon emissions, or even streets. This bird's-eye view of The Line has been doing the rounds on Reddit, and although it might not look like much, it's sparked a fierce debate about whether The Line is a step too far for humanity.
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The most popular comment reads: "A monument to man’s hubris." It definitely feels like The Line is pushing the limits of what we can achieve in construction, giving us some serious Megalopolis vibes. Just because you can build it does't mean you always should.
Others shared their view on The Line, with someone else adding: "Watched a YT video on this a while back. Architects said if they built a circle it would be something like 5-10% of the size, the whole thing would be walkable and way more efficient. Nope the gov said f**k that go for a line."
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Another asked, "Wait, they are actually doing it?" with someone concluding, "They scaled back to doing some 5 percent of what they proposed and that's still many times over the original budget."
All of project NEOM is reported to be facing setbacks, but it's The Line in particular that's been grabbing headlines.
The Line was originally supposed to accommodate nine million residents by 2030, but now, it's possibly been slashed to just 300,000.
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Despite these swirling rumors, Saudi Economy Minister Faisal Al Ibrahim suggested to CNBC that things are moving forward as planned: "For NEOM, the projects, the intended scale is continuing as planned. There is no change in scale."
The Line is supposed to be 110 miles long is even having a whole concrete factory built to power its construction. Despite NEOM claiming The Line will keep its supersized credentials, others claim the glass-walled city will be just 1.5 miles long when it's finally completed.
Even though it looks like work is only just starting on The Line, it's set to be the jewel in NEOM's crown. It's clear opinions are still divided on whether it'll be a modern marvel akin to the pyramids or design disaster waiting to happen.