UPDATE: The Line has been reduced to 1.5 miles long! The Line, once envisioned to house 9 million residents, is now set to accommodate less than 300,000 by 2030, with its scale dramatically reduced from 105 miles to a mere 1.5 miles. Reports from Unilad suggest that one contractor has begun laying off workers involved in the project. Delays have plagued the initiative, prompting officials to acknowledge the struggle to meet the 2030 deadline. Despite setbacks, Neom CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr remains resolute, stating, “To tackle tomorrow's challenges, we must confront them head-on today, no matter how daunting.”
If you have not heard of The Line, here’s a breakdown:
Saudi Arabia's engaged in a bold venture into the future of urban living presenting a project aptly titled, The Line, within the mega-project NEOM. The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s ambitious plan is to diversify the kingdom's oil-dependent economy. This futuristic city, stretching 170km while being only 200m wide, proposes a utopia where nature, people, and technology coexist seamlessly. However, the ground realities and a series of contentious issues have significantly mired the project, highlighting the complexities of transforming a grand vision into reality.
With no roads or cars, and relying entirely on renewable energy, it promises a lifestyle that prioritizes human health and the environment over traditional modes of transport and infrastructure. The city's design, featuring a central train to facilitate movement across its length, envisions a green utopia with zero greenhouse gas emissions, adhering to the Crown Prince's declaration in 2022 about addressing the liveability and environmental crises plaguing the world's cities today.
Challenges and Controversies
Despite the high ambitions, The Line has faced significant hurdles. The project has been criticized for the impact on the indigenous population, particularly the Al-Howeitat tribe in Tabuk province, whose members have been arrested, detained, or displaced to make way for the construction. Human rights organization Alqst reported severe sentences handed down to tribe members resisting eviction, including prison sentences ranging from 15 to 50 years and even death penalties for some, sparking international outcry over the forcible displacement.
More challenges and controversies have been highlighted in this video below:
The Verdict on The Line
The setbacks faced by The Line highlight a fundamental challenge in executing visionaries and radically transformative projects. Bridging the gap between ambitious goals and the socio-political, environmental, and ethical considerations is daunting. While The Line still represents a significant step towards a new model of urban living, its success will ultimately be measured by its ability to harmonize its high-tech, eco-friendly aspirations with the rights and well-being of affected communities, as well as genuine dedication to environmental stewardship on a global scale. As of now, the story of The Line is a cautionary tale of vision versus viability, reminding us that the path to a sustainable future is fraught with difficult choices and compromises.