A future walled metropolis with an open interior and a mirrored outer surface, extending from the Red Sea to the east, through the desert, and up into a mountain range.
The Line, a giga-project that will change Saudi Arabia's northwest, is planned to be a tall and narrow strip of a city more than 105 miles long, teeming with Nine million inhabitants, and powered exclusively by renewable energy.
Announced in 2017, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that the creation of a new worldwide attraction is part of a project that redefines mountain tourism in Saudi Arabia. The proposal, according to reports, entails converting a desert territory the size of Belgium into NEOM, a high-tech city-region. The project has received a total investment of $500 billion with the intention of reshaping Saudi Arabia's economy.
Showcasing Human Growth Unhindering Planet’s Health
According to estimates, this futuristic megacity, which would stretch along the Red Sea and Aqaba Gulf coasts of Saudi Arabia, will be 33 times larger than New York City and occupy an area of 26,500 km2. Neom describes itself as a blueprint for a future in which human growth is unhindered by the planet's health.
The unique megacity is a part of the ambitious Neom development project of the government, which has published concept videos depicting the city's towering walls surrounding trees, gardens, and other plant life, nestling communities among work and recreational structures.
The plans for the city's vertically layered neighborhoods, which were recently unveiled, will upend the idea of flat, horizontal cities by preserving nature and improving livability.
The building's blend of shade, sunlight, and ventilation, according to its designers, will ensure a comfortable atmosphere throughout the entire year. But, not everyone was as excited with the idea of residing in the Saudi desert between enormous walls.
Building a new city from scratch to solve urban issues is not a novel concept. It has been tried in Brasilia, Chandigarh, Malaysia, Putrajaya, and Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, among other places.
The $500 billion Neom mega project in Saudi Arabia can now be seen from above thanks to new satellite photographs.
As it Will be Powered by Clean Energy
This is a significant step in Saudi Arabia's transition away from an oil-based economy since the smart city will be totally powered by clean energy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the project and declared that the country's 170-kilometer-long coastal strip in the northwest will be free of automobiles, streets, and carbon emissions.
Neom is intended to address some of the most important global issues affecting metropolitan areas and to encourage a different way of life.
Neom, according to those behind the project, will be a regional leader in producing and storing water, with a focus on desalination. Interoperable, high-tech systems will entice water research organizations and start-ups to promote innovation and take the lead in all areas of the water industry.
Neom's water distribution system will be fully interconnected thanks to cutting-edge construction. Neom will be at the forefront of water technology as a result of minimizing water loss.
To demonstrate how closely entwined humans are with nature, the city will retain 95 percent of the surrounding natural area.
Neom will have a carbon-positive, zero-emission ecosystem since all of its energy sources—solar, wind, and hydrogen-based power generation—are 100 percent renewable.
This futuristic development will prioritize walkability, clean energy, and technology to establish a new way of living while addressing the traffic, pollution, and infrastructure concerns that overwhelm urban life in conventional cities.
First Vertical Metropolis on Zero Gravity
The Line will also be the first vertical metropolis in zero gravity.
Zero-gravity urbanism is the idea of piling city services vertically so that people may move easily in three dimensions to obtain them, according to Prince Mohammed.
The Line will be the first metropolis in the world to run entirely on clean energy sources like hydrogen, solar, and wind. The Line's development, including the establishment of buildings and a campsite for the engineering team and workers, was documented in the arresting aerial images.
Prince Mohammed emphasized the need to address the growing pressure on urban spaces and create solutions for a fast expanding global population in his remarks at The Line's opening last year.
Its outer appearance will be made of mirrors, allowing even its footprint to fit with nature.
The duration of travels will double by 2050. A billion people will need to relocate by 2050 as a result of increasing sea levels and carbon dioxide emissions.
To improve transportation, a hyper train line will traverse the city. A renewable energy system will be used to power this train route.
When Will Neom be Completed?
Excavators can be seen digging a large trench in the desert in recent drone footage of The Line that was released by the OT Sky Drone firm. This indicates that development on the massive project has begun.
Neom would be partially financed through an IPO that is anticipated for 2024, the Crown Prince had stated in July.
The first phase of the city is expected to cost 1.2 trillion riyals ($319 billion), of which half will come from the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund.
According to him, the economic zone, which would eventually accommodate nine million people, will have room for 450,000 people by 2026 and 1.5 to 2 million by 2030. By 2045, nine million people will live there.