Changes in Saudi Arabia’s Massive Project “The Line”
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious initiative, “The Line,” might be shifting direction. It first came to light in 2021 when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled plans for this futuristic city—a vision many hoped for.
Described as “car-free and road-free,” the city was supposed to allow residents to traverse it in about 20 minutes via high-speed rail. There were also claims of a “hyper-connected, AI-enabled community powered by 100% clean energy.”
Originally projected to be fully operational by 2030, the project seems to have undergone significant changes. Recent reports indicate that the magnitude of the project has been considerably reduced to address new priorities.
According to sources, the Crown Prince is now considering a “much smaller” endeavor, with The Line potentially transforming into a high-tech data center instead. Officials acknowledge this new vision entails using existing facilities but with a “completely different concept.”
“Data centers require water cooling, and since we’re coastal, we’ll utilize seawater for that. So, it’s becoming a major data center,” they explained.
Saudi Arabia appears determined to establish itself as a “global hub for data and AI,” led by the group overseeing The Line, named Neom. In a statement to the Financial Times, Neom expressed that they are exploring ways to adjust and prioritize efforts to create long-term value aligned with national goals.
They added, “As a generational development, Neom is advancing projects correlated with strategic priorities, market adaptability, and sustainable economic impact.”
There are still firm deadlines on the horizon, like the 2030 International Trade Fair Expo and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Initial projections had the project spanning 170 kilometers, which has now been curtailed to a mere 2.4 kilometers, and from a projected 9 million residents to just 300,000. Reports previously claimed there would be plans for 1 million residents and the creation of 380,000 future jobs.
Currently, the project reportedly consumes approximately 20% of the world’s steel production as Saudi Arabia eyes the construction of a marina that would be double the size of its existing one.
