Saudi Arabia plans to build a 105-mile-long skyscraper in a desert

by Verus Real Estate

Saudi Arabia revealed visuals for a city that you have never seen before. The new project, known as The Line, will be built near the Red Sea. It will include one 500-meter-tall and 105-mile-long (170km) megastructure. This city will have no roads and no cars and produce zero emissions.

Similar to any other city, The Line will have residential and retail areas as well as parks, and schools. According to the press release, this futuristic city will accommodate up to 9 million people. In addition, every resident will be able to travel from one end of the city to another in only 20 minutes using a high-speed rail.

*The first vertical city in the world (Image credit: Neom)*

Designed as a sustainable alternative to traditional cities, The Line will be entirely powered by renewable energy. The project is focused on creating the perfect climate all year round. All residents will have an equitable access to green open spaces no more than two minutes away from where they live.

“The designs revealed today for the city's vertically layered communities will challenge the traditional flat, horizontal cities and create a model for nature preservation and enhanced human livability,” said Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. “THE LINE will tackle the challenges facing humanity in urban life today and will shine a light on alternative ways to live."

*The Line will rise 500-meters above sea level* *(Image credit: Neom)*

The megastructure will include two linear blocks connected by multiple bridges and parks. This never-seen-before city will have an outer mirror facade that will allow it to blend with nature. Although The Line will be a special economic zone, it will still be a part of the kingdom and subject to all its laws and regulations, according to NPR.

Resources:

“HRH CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN ANNOUNCES DESIGNS FOR THE LINE, THE CITY OF THE FUTURE IN NEOM,” (Neom, 2022)

“Saudi Arabia reveals 170-kilometre-long mirrored skyscraper to house nine million people,” by Tom Ravenscroft (Dezeen, 2022)
“THE WORLD’S FIRST ZERO-GRAVITY VERTICAL CITY AT NEOM, SAUDI ARABIA,” by Sofia Lekka Angelopoulou(Designboom, 2022)

“A 105-mile-long city will snake through the Saudi desert. Is that a good idea?” by Bill Chappell (NPR, 2022)

“Inside Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Build a Skyscraper That Stretches for 75 Miles,” by Rory Jones (Wall Street Journal, 2022)