English 
Spanish 
3 min read
8 comments
Planned to house 1,5 million people across 170 km, The Line has already faced criticism for delays, investment difficulties, and reports of more than 21.000 worker deaths since the project began.
Saudi Arabia has been attracting worldwide attention with ambitious projects, but few have generated as much curiosity as The Line, a planned megacity that promises to reinvent the concept of urbanization. However, the Saudi government recently admitted that the project will take at least 50 years to complete. The question remains: why is it taking so long and what are the real challenges of this monumental undertaking?
What is The Line and Saudi Arabia's view
The Line is part of the Neom project, a key piece in Vision 2030, that seeks to diversify the economy Saudi Arabia, currently dependent on oil. Measuring 170 kilometers long and just 200 meters wide, the city would be completely sustainable, housing 1,5 million people in a vertical structure covered in mirrors. Inside, luxury and cutting-edge technology would be the stars, with artificial intelligence systems and ultra-fast transportation.
The idea behind The Line is not just to create a city, but a global symbol of innovation and modernity. By challenging traditional concepts of urbanization, the project aims to put Saudi Arabia at the center of the world stage. However, transforming a desert into a technological oasis is no easy task.
- Highway has glow-in-the-dark paint instead of light bulbs, but there's a problem: it costs 20 times more
- Affordable housing project revolutionizes construction by being COMPLETED in just 12 days with 3D printing
- North America's Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge: The Construction That Will Transform Trade Between the US and Canada
- Brazil's first underwater tunnel! The project, valued at almost 6 BILLION, will pass through the SEA and reduce the journey from 50 to 2 minutes, but there is a problem: the Ministry and the Government disagree on the launch of the project
The challenges faced by The Line project
The government initially promised that The Line would be operational by 2030. However, Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan has revealed that the entire project will take more than 50 years to complete. “We are not fools,” he said, noting that building a city of this magnitude requires long-term planning.
The lack of international investors has been another obstacle. Analysts suggest that skepticism about the project viability and the high costs involved drive away potential financiers. The Saudi economy's dependence on volatile oil prices makes the situation worse.
The human and ethical impact of construction
Behind the grandiosity of the project lies an alarming human cost. Reports indicate that more than 21.000 migrant workers have died since Vision 2030 began, many of them in conditions bordering on slavery. Allegations of delayed wages and exhausting work hours have tarnished the image of the project.
While The Line is promoted as a model of sustainability, critics warn of ecological damage. The large-scale construction threatens unique ecosystems in the Red Sea and requires exorbitant amounts of energy and water to maintain its operations.
A long-term bet
With the new completion date set for 2070, the government hopes to deliver a city that will be a landmark in the history of architecture and urban planning. However, experts point out that significant adjustments will be needed to achieve the stated goals.
Global perceptions of The Line remain divided. While some see the project as a visionary milestone, others see it as a risky gamble, especially given criticism over human rights and environmental impacts.
The Line is a project that mixes innovation, ambition and controversies in equal measure. While the idea of a futuristic megacity is fascinating, the human and environmental cost already raises difficult questions. The Saudi government insists this is not a folly, but a long-term vision.
Man makes plans; but the Creator and Sustainer of the universe is the One who allows or does not allow such a feat to be accomplished. Such a construction is reminiscent of the Tower of Babel.😏
Wouldn't it be smarter to do it in modules, in stages? Without having to have the whole city ready at once? Because waiting 50 years to inaugurate it will mean that all the technology used will be obsolete by then. In other words, it's just wasting time. This seems more like a money laundering and embezzlement project than a real urbanization project.
Billionaires have no respect for human life. They will always be hailed as benefactors of humanity.