Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Saudi Arabia Scales Back Ambitious 'The Line' Megacity Project
Imagine Saudi Arabia wanted to build a super long, super futuristic city called 'The Line' that would be like two giant skyscrapers facing each other for 170 kilometers, holding millions of people.
It was supposed to have no cars and run on clean energy.
However, building such a big city is very expensive, and Saudi Arabia needs money from selling oil, which hasn't been selling for a high price lately.
So, they've decided to make the city much smaller for now, perhaps only a few kilometers long and for fewer people.
It's like planning a huge birthday party but realizing you can only afford a smaller one right now.
Other big projects like resorts and new downtown areas are also being slowed down because the country wants to be more careful with its money.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly scaling back its ambitious 'The Line' megacity project, a key part of Vision 2030.
Originally planned as a 170-kilometer linear city for 9 million people, the project is now expected to be significantly shorter and house around 300,000 residents.
Officials cite the need for a 'course correction' due to financial pressures, including the fluctuating price of oil, which the Kingdom heavily relies on.
The project's timeline is being extended, with full completion of the original scale potentially delayed to 2040 or beyond.
Other major Saudi projects, including island resorts and new downtown districts, are also facing delays and reassessments.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS)
- What
- Scaling back ambitious plans for 'The Line' megacity project.
- When
- Reports indicate a recent course correction; project completion delayed to 2040 or later.
- Where
- Neom project site in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk province, near the Red Sea.
- Why
- Due to financial constraints, reliance on oil prices, and a need to reassess 'wasteful' spending on various mega-projects.
Original Grandiose Plans
Revised & Scaled-Back Plans
Projected Size and Population
Original Grandiose Plans
The Line was initially envisioned as a 170-kilometer-long city designed to house 9 million people.
Revised & Scaled-Back Plans
Current reports suggest the project will be scaled back to just a few kilometers in length, accommodating approximately 300,000 people.
Timeline for Completion
Original Grandiose Plans
The full 170-kilometer span was planned to be completed within the Vision 2030 framework.
Revised & Scaled-Back Plans
Achieving the 170-kilometer length is now projected to take three to five decades, with a potential delay to 2040 or later.
Financial Approach
Original Grandiose Plans
Initial approach involved rapid, ambitious spending to quickly realize Vision 2030 goals.
Revised & Scaled-Back Plans
A 'course correction' is underway, necessitating a more conservative approach due to financial constraints and a need to 'slow down before speeding up'.
- Project Name
- The Line
- Parent Project
- Neom
- Associated Plan
- Saudi Vision 2030
- Location
- Tabuk province, near the Red Sea
- Original Vision
- 170km linear city, 500m high twin skyscrapers, 9 million residents, car-free, zero-emission, 100% renewable energy.
- Revised Vision
- A few kilometers long, 300,000 residents.
- Estimated Delay
- Until 2040 or later