Aerial footage showed the start of excavation work to implement the “The Line” project in the city of NEOM, and its construction is expected to be completed by 2030, according to Al Arabiya.
“The Line”, a A$725 billion futuristic city designed to house 9 million residents. It comprises a mirrored, wall-like structure 200 metres wide and 500 metres tall. To be built in Saudi Arabia’s north-western Tabuk province, the project will extend 170 kilometres inland from the Red Sea across coastal desert, mountain and upper valley landscapes, reports a local Arabic daily.
The Line allows all residents to access all facilities and services within 5 minutes, in addition to the presence of a high-speed train that connects the two ends of the city within 20 minutes.
The Line claims to set a new benchmark for sustainable development. Its footprint is just 34 square kilometres (less than 4 square metres per person), occupying a fraction of NEOM’s 26,500-square-kilometre site. This allows for a lighter touch on the landscape than would normally be expected for a mega city. In addition, the NEOM project includes an airport and shipping port, industrial areas, research centres, sports and entertainment venues and tourism destinations.