The Line: Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious Megaproject Update

In 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled an audacious vision – The Line. This ambitious megaproject aims to create a self-sustaining linear city stretching over 100 kilometers from the Red Sea to the city of Tabuk in the east. The Line’s unique concept promises zero cars, zero roads, and zero emissions, redefining urban living as we know it.

Progress Report: What’s Happening on The Line?

As of the latest update, The Line has seen significant progress over the past year. According to the project’s executive director, vital infrastructure construction is estimated to be 20% complete. This includes essential roads, offices, and logistics hubs, all visible on satellite images surrounding the project’s length.

Neom Community 1 is a prime example of this progress. It now resembles a complete city, boasting hundreds of housing units, a school, a mosque, a post office, convenience stores, and even a branch of Starbucks. The excavation work for The Line’s main structure has also made substantial headway. You can now trace the foundations from end to end on Google Maps.

The coastal section known as the Hidden Marina is witnessing substantial excavation. Upon completion, it will become the world’s largest marina, capable of hosting even the largest cruise ship. The excavation project here is massive, with up to 1 million cubic meters of earth being dug up weekly.

Piling work for the main structure, specifically in module 43, has commenced with over 4,500 individual piles installed in the past year. The dedicated underground rail system, The Spine, has also undergone significant changes, with a reduced scope and fewer stations.

Table 1: Key Progress Metrics on The Line

Metric	Progress
Infrastructure Construction Completion	20%
Neom Community 1 Development	Resembles a complete city
Main Structure Excavation Progress	Foundations traced on Google Maps
Hidden Marina Excavation Progress	Largest excavation project globally
Piling Work in Module 43	4,500+ piles installed
Reduction in The Spine’s Scope	30 kilometers less of tunneling
Reduced Number of Stations on The Spine	From 48 to 9

With all this progress, one might wonder about the funding and the companies involved in this colossal project.

Funding and Key Players

The Line, along with the entire Neom project, is financed and owned by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund directly controlled by the Crown Prince. This $700 billion investment remains the primary driver behind The Line’s continuous development.

Several renowned companies have contracts for excavation and foundation work, including the Keller Group from the UK, Bauer from Germany, and Bachy Soletanche from France. PowerChina, a state-owned construction company, is responsible for piling work on the marina.

Moreover, Italian contractor Webuild and Saudi’s Sajco have secured the contract to build a high-speed rail line connecting The Line to Oxagon, another significant Neom project.

Table 2: Key Companies Involved in The Line

Company	Role
Keller Group	Excavation and foundation work
Bauer	Excavation and foundation work
Bachy Soletanche	Excavation and foundation work
PowerChina	Piling work on the marina
Webuild	High-speed rail line construction
Sajco	High-speed rail line construction

While the progress on The Line is impressive, it’s not without its share of criticisms and challenges.

Criticisms and Challenges

1. Sustainability Concerns: Despite The Line’s promise of sustainability, experts estimate its construction could result in a total carbon footprint of up to 1.8 gigatonnes of CO2. This raises questions about the feasibility of stacking all elements of a city vertically on such a massive scale, especially in terms of environmental impact.
2. Human Rights Issues: Reports suggest that residents were forced to leave their villages to make way for the construction site. The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed concerns about protesters facing severe sentences, including the possibility of execution. These human rights issues could hinder the project’s reputation and ability to attract global investors.

It’s clear that The Line is a complex project with both potential and pitfalls. While its progress is undeniable, addressing sustainability and human rights concerns will be crucial for its long-term success.

Trojena: Saudi Arabia’s Winter Wonderland

In the heart of a vast mountainous desert, Saudi Arabia is undertaking another remarkable project – Trojena. This luxury outdoor winter and skiing destination is a departure from the typical desert landscape. What sets Trojena apart is the urgency to complete it in just six years, ahead of the Asian Winter Games in 2029.

Trojena’s Unique Challenge

Trojena, located 50 kilometers from the Red Sea coast within one of the country’s highest mountain ranges, presents a unique challenge – creating a winter wonderland in a region with minimal natural snowfall. While temperatures can dip below freezing, snowfall remains rare. To address this, Trojena plans to rely on artificial snow machines, which consume significant amounts of water and electricity.

Table 3: Key Features of Trojena

Feature	Description
Location	50 kilometers from Red Sea coast
Snowfall Challenge	Artificial snow machines essential
Water Source	Seawater from the Red Sea
Desalination Required	To make seawater suitable for snowmaking

Trojena’s Progress

Despite these challenges, Trojena has made considerable progress in the past year. The excavation process around the mountains has already excavated 1.6 million cubic meters of material to create a massive artificial lake at the project’s center. “The Vault,” Trojena’s vertical village within the mountains, has seen more than a million cubic tons of material excavated.

Foundation work for the ski village is also underway. Ennismore, a prominent hospitality brand, has partnered with Trojena to build luxury hotels in the ski village. Minor Hotels also plans to open a five-star resort in the water village.

Table 4: Trojena’s Progress Metrics

Progress Milestone	Description
Artificial Lake Excavation	1.6 million cubic meters of material excavated
Progress on “The Vault”	Over a million cubic tons of material excavated
Foundation Work for Ski Village	Underway
Ennismore Partnership	Luxury hotels in the ski village
Minor Hotels Five-Star Resort	Planned for the water village

Trojena’s development seems well on track, with Saudi Arabia demonstrating its commitment to the 2029 deadline despite the challenging climate conditions.

Sindalah: Luxurious Island Resort

Sindalah is another exciting project within Neom, situated as a luxurious island resort along the Red Sea coast. Accessible by boat, seaplane, or Neom Bay Airport, Sindalah aims to be a world-class yachting destination, featuring an 86-berth marina, three luxury hotels, a golf course, and an array of luxury restaurants and retail outlets.

Progress in Sindalah

Announced just in December of the previous year, Sindalah is expected to be the first project to open within Neom. Developers plan to welcome guests as early as 2024, providing a glimpse into Neom’s futuristic vision. Satellite images from Google Maps reveal significant progress on the island, including roads, building layouts, and even near-completed structures around the marina.

Marriott International, having signed an agreement to open three luxury hotels in Sindalah, is confident about completing construction in time for the 2024 opening.

Table 5: Sindalah’s Development

Development Milestone	Description
Expected Opening Date	2024
Progress on Roads and Buildings	Significant advancement
Marriott International Partnership	Three luxury hotels planned
Construction Confidence	On track for the 2024 opening

Sindalah’s rapid development makes it a critical project within Neom, offering the public an early glimpse into the city’s futuristic offerings.

Oxagon: The Floating Industrial Port City

Oxagon, located on the Kingdom’s west coast, is set to become the business and industrial heart of Neom. As a thriving port city situated in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, Oxagon will cater to emerging industries, including green energy. It will also house the Port of Neom, the megacity’s primary industrial and logistics hub.

Oxagon’s Progress Report

Although there’s limited news regarding Oxagon’s construction, some infrastructure around the Port of Neom has been developed. It’s important to note that some of these buildings belong to the older Duba Port, recently renamed to Oxagon. Compared to other Neom projects, Oxagon appears to be in the early stages of development.

Table 6: Oxagon’s Current Status

Development Stage	Description
Infrastructure Development	Limited progress
Duba Port Renaming	Transitioning to Oxagon
Early Development Stage	In comparison to other Neom projects

In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s commitment to turning its ambitious dreams into reality is evident through the progress made on these groundbreaking projects. However, challenges such as sustainability, human rights, and the unique climate of Trojena pose significant hurdles. As these megaprojects continue to evolve, they will undoubtedly shape the future of urban living and redefine what’s possible in the world of city planning.