The Line: Saudi Arabia’s Revolutionary Linear City Megaproject
In 2021, Saudi Arabia announced plans for perhaps the most ambitious urban development project in human history: The Line, a linear city stretching 170 kilometers through the NEOM region. This revolutionary concept reimagines urban living with a radical approach – a city consisting of a single, continuous line without cars or streets, powered entirely by renewable energy.
A New Vision for Urban Living
The Line challenges fundamental assumptions about how cities should function. Instead of spreading outward in concentric circles like traditional cities, this megaproject extends in a perfect line across the Saudi desert. The structure rises 500 meters into the sky while maintaining a slim 200-meter width, creating a unique urban corridor designed to house up to 9 million residents.
At its core, The Line’s design prioritizes environmental preservation and sustainable living. The complete absence of cars and streets marks a dramatic departure from conventional urban planning, with the project aiming to significantly reduce carbon emissions. A high-speed transportation system will run the length of the city, promising to connect end-to-end in just 20 minutes.
Construction Progress and Timeline
The scale of construction currently underway at The Line is unprecedented. As of 2025, extensive foundation work and earth moving operations have transformed the desert landscape. More than 260 excavators operate on site, with approximately 2,000 truckloads of soil being moved daily in preparation for this linear metropolis.
In a significant advancement announced in late 2024, NEOM partnered with Samsung to deploy the world’s largest industrial robotic installation for rebar placement (source). This technological partnership marks a crucial step in turning The Line’s ambitious designs into reality.
While some media outlets have reported potential delays, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning recently affirmed that all NEOM megaprojects, including The Line, will proceed as scheduled. “There is absolutely no delay in any project,” the minister emphasized in an April 2024 statement to CNBC (source).
Investment and Economic Impact
The financial scale of The Line matches its physical ambitions. Cost estimates from Saudi Arabian authorities range from $100 billion to $700 billion (source), reflecting both the project’s complexity and the varying phases of development planned over coming decades.
The first major milestone on the horizon is the completion of a half-mile section scheduled for 2034. This initial segment will serve as a proof of concept for the larger vision, demonstrating the feasibility of The Line’s innovative approaches to urban living, transportation, and sustainability.
Technical Innovation and Sustainability
The Line’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its car-free design. The entire city is planned to operate on 100% renewable energy, incorporating advanced water management systems and vertical farming throughout its length. The mirror-finished exterior isn’t merely aesthetic – it’s part of a comprehensive environmental control system designed to maintain comfortable living conditions while minimizing energy consumption.
Construction techniques being employed are equally innovative. The Samsung-led robotics installation represents just one example of how The Line is pushing the boundaries of construction technology. These automated systems will handle the precise placement of rebar throughout the structure, ensuring consistency and efficiency at a scale traditional construction methods couldn’t achieve.
Looking Forward
As foundation work continues and the first vertical elements begin to emerge from the desert floor, The Line represents more than just another megaproject. It stands as an ambitious attempt to fundamentally reimagine urban living for the 21st century and beyond. While the full realization of this linear city may extend over several decades, the current construction progress demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to turning this revolutionary vision into reality.
The success or failure of The Line could influence urban development globally, offering insights into sustainable city design, advanced construction techniques, and new models of urban living. As construction progresses and the first sections take shape, the world watches to see whether this bold experiment in urban planning will deliver on its promises of a more sustainable, efficient, and livable city of the future.