Saudi Arabia is building a 170 km-long mirrored metropolis in the desert: What is 'The Line'?
As climate change rapidly advances, many Middle Eastern states are aiming to make the transition from carbon-based economies to alternatives that attract people from around the world—for tourism, business, work or to live.
One such example is a development known as NEOM, to be built in Saudi Arabia.
A key part of the plan is "The Line," a A$725 billion futuristic city designed to house 9 million residents. It comprises a mirrored, wall-like structure 200 meters wide and 500 meters tall. To be built in Saudi Arabia's north-western Tabuk province, the project will extend 170 kilometers inland from the Red Sea across coastal desert, mountain and upper valley landscapes.
The Line claims to set a new benchmark for sustainable development. Its footprint is just 34 square kilometers (less than 4 square meters per person), occupying a fraction of NEOM's 26,500-square-kilometer 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 centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourism destinations.
The Line is touted as a post-carbon eco-city, but the scale of its ambitions raises serious questions about whether the project can deliver on its environmental, economic and social goals within just a few years.
The devil is in the details
At first glance, the project appears environmentally impressive. The urban edge is no more than 100 meters from any point in the city. A high-speed electric public transport service ensures no part of The Line is more than 20 minutes away.
Residing in such a gargantuan structure implies a claustrophobic lifestyle. But, in theory, each resident would enjoy an average of 1,000 cubic meters of urban volume. That's much more generous than most dense city living environments.