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The Line is an integral part of the Neom project, a major economic development initiative launched by Saudi Arabia. Neom aims to create a futuristic, innovative city that will serve as an engine of economic growth and prosperity for the region and the country as a whole. The Line fits into this broader vision as a key component of Neom's urban development.
At the heart of The Line is a city concept stretching an impressive 170 kilometers. This linear city would consist of two massive parallel structures spaced 200 metres apart, 500 metres high, and 170 km long, offering a dense, compact urban space. The idea behind this unique design is to maximize the efficient use of space while creating a dynamic, connected urban environment.
The Line's design also incorporates principles of sustainability and efficiency. The project's promoters claim that the city will be designed to have no carbon footprint: no cars, no streets in order to minimize its impact on the environment. Innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will also be used to optimize the management of urban services, and improve the city's operational efficiency.
One of the most intriguing aspects of The Line is its proposal to create a fully accessible city, where everything is at your fingertips. The project's promoters claim that residents of The Line will be able to access all essential services in less than five minutes on foot, thus surpassing urban planner Carlos Moreno's concept of the "quarter-hour city", where everything should be "accessible within a quarter of an hour on foot or by bicycle". This vision of a hyper-connected, accessible city is an exciting prospect for many urban planners.
However, despite its potential, The Line also faces a number of challenges and obstacles. One of the main challenges is the question of the project's economic viability. Building and managing such a massive city requires considerable investment in terms of financial, human and material resources. Moreover, the ability of The Line to attract a sufficiently large population to ensure its long-term prosperity remains uncertain: indeed, the promoters intend to attract 9 million people to live within The Line, when Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, currently has "only" 7 million inhabitants.
Another challenge is that of governance and urban planning. Managing such a complex and diverse city requires careful planning and effective coordination between the various stakeholders. In addition, the cultural and social diversity of The Line's population raises important questions about inclusion and representation within the city. Will elections be held to appoint a mayor? Will there be a representative body of the city's inhabitants? These questions remain unanswered.
Neom is a vast project involving several cities: in addition to The Line, the area is also home to Sindalah, a luxury tourism island; Oxagon, a port, industrial center and floating city; Trojena, a ski resort set in the mountains of the region; and Leyja, luxury hotels built in the middle of a canyon.
Despite these challenges, construction work on The Line has begun, with progress regularly shared on social networks and in the media. Images from the construction sites show impressive progress, with basic infrastructure such as roads and buildings beginning to take shape.
It has to be said that The Line represents a bold attempt: rethinking traditional urban models, where creating a city of the future is a necessity. With its unique concept, ambitious vision and considerable challenges, The Line is a source of both fascination and debate. Only time will tell whether this visionary project will become a lasting reality and transform the global urban landscape. Peers will be at keeping an eye on it!
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