Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Project, “The Line”, Futuristic or Farfetched?

The Line is a $1 trillion smart renewable energy mega-city that houses nine million people into living quarters of a condensed society cutting through the Saudi Arabia skyline. This unique design is meant to eliminate streets, cars, and carbon emissions; as well as promote new jobs with sustainable living monitored by A.I.

The creators of this city, NEOM, have focused on building the first cognitive city by 2030, where world-class technology is fueled with data and intelligence to revolutionize civilizations. This structure is focused on putting people first and to provide an unprecedented urban living experience. This is done in an attempt to save humanity from a commuting society and secure their needs, while simultaneously helping the environment.

“Living with the land and nature rather than being separated from it. The Line wouldn’t be a regression, but it wouldn’t be progress either.” states a survey participant. This questionnaire about The Line consists of a sample size of 27 college students that focuses on the opinions and influential purpose of this society. The plan of this community is ultimately to reduce waste & enhance living by producing their own currency, legal systems, and trade. Each community will have everything a person needs within a five minute walking distance separated into three sectors; top pedestrian zone, service layer and spine layer. The outside of the city will be made of mirrors to create a futuristic look and incase the city’s monitored climate.

This concept does have some environmental drawbacks. The purpose of the Line’s architecture is that the environment needs to be protected and utilized, yet the plans for this mega city disrupt the country’s natural environmental habitats by cutting the land down the middle. Geographically, cutting the land in half causes natural habitats to be fragmented which stops animal migration, limits genetic diversity, and can kill off species. Mirrors conduct heat and cause light to reflect on surrounding environments, thus creating heat zones that reduce

productivity in the area.

The social aspects of The Line may be hard to predict, but there are still variables to look at. For example, as of right now thousands of tribal members are already occupying the land. Will they be relocated? With a total of 10,200 square miles being used for nine million people, how will they entice people that can afford to move here to give up their equity to start minimal living? With less daylight towards the base of the line, the pedestrian zone will consist of a more competitive pricing bracket which will develop a social hierarchy.

“The top of The Line would be like living in Malibu while the bottom is the Historic district of East La.” states a survey member.

In summary, The Line can decrease a majority of the environmental strains society has in our world. With the unpredictable social aspect at hand, there still needs to be some developmental modifications to take this type of community seriously. The concept of The Line can be seen as futuristic or far-fetched, but that is up to you.