Where Saudi Arabia's controversial £800 billion 'The Line' is at as new image shows its progress
It's been four years since initial plans for The Line were announced, but new images of construction show that it might be further from completion than expected.
Announced by Saudi Arabian construction company Neom, the plan is to create a sustainable city, all within a 170km (105 mile) line, with a width of just 200 metres.
It's been touted to cost £800 billion in what might be one of the most ambitious real estate projects ever. In the time since its announcement, it was said that some dodgy dealings were going on when it came to allegedly getting rid of locals living in the area, while its estimated cost doubled from original estimations.
While updates have been previously released on the city's progress, a new snap has now done the rounds on social media for the first time in months.
What is 'The Line'?
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The city branded as 'The Line', was set to be finished by 2030, though developers last year back tracked on this goal, instead setting a more realistic goal of around 100 years' time for completion, according to officials (via The New Arab).
The idea, which was dreamed up by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is to create a futuristic metropolis with no cars or carbon emissions that runs on renewable energy.
In its entirety, The Line will be within the glass mirror walls of a skyscraper building that makes up the entire city.
What are Saudi Arabia's plans for it?
The Middle Eastern country plan to house nine million residents in their state-of-the-art city, setting a precedent in real estate innovation.
This plan also came at a similar time to their successful World Cup bid announcement, with the country aiming to stand out with revolutionary infrastructures in place.
A lot of the technology being utilised for the project has been kept under wraps, with concept images showing buildings floating over the touted private Neom Marina.
This is where residents will be able to park their super yachts before heading to the golf resort on site, or up to the sports complex that will be built.
How far has the project progressed?
Earlier this year, Operating Officer of The Line, Giles Pendleton, took to LinkedIn to share new aerial snaps of the mega project.
Its progress could be seen, with the 660m-wide outline of the city showing in the desert sand. As well as this, 60 new wind turbines and a large construction site could be seen, in addition to a living area for workers near the city.
The COO explained: “A good snapshot of progress and a range of NEOM infrastructure projects from the water pipeline to new camps completing to massive amount of work in Oxagon harbor,
“All are going well and shows things from a very different viewpoint from the air.”
While the goal of nine million residents had been set for 2030, the government anticipate nearer to 300,000 people to be within the city's walls by then.
2,800 staff members are currently living and working on site, though it doesn't end here.
Neom also aim to have a ski resort called Trojena, located in the same area, which will be open for ski enthusiasts for three months a year.
Why is it so controversial?
While many are doubting the legitimacy of the technology that the Saudi government are planning to use in the city, the problems seemingly go beyond reasonable doubts.
Former Saudi security official, Col Rabih Alenezi, spoke to the BBC in 2024 after fleeing to the UK.
He claimed that he was asked to 'kill locals' in a village inhabited by the Huwaitat tribe if they didn't move for The Line's construction.
Alnezi added that the alleged order instructed that 'whoever continues to resist [eviction] should be killed, so it licensed the use of lethal force against whoever stayed in their home'.
"Neom is the centrepiece of Mohamed Bin Salman's ideas. That's why he was so brutal in dealing with the Huwaitat," he claimed.
Reports have also suggested that the total cost of the project could be several times more expensive than expected.
LADbible has previously contacted Neom for comment.
Topics: The Line, Saudi Arabia, Technology
Joshua Nair