Last Updated on January 30, 2023

The futuristic smart city of The Line at NEOM, being built as part of the larger NEOM project in northwestern Saudi Arabia, was put on display in Riyadh in January 2023. The exhibition will run until April 29th at the Diriyah Biennale Foundation for Contemporary Art in the Jax district and offers visitors a glimpse into life in the revolutionary linear city.

In addition, Saudi Arabia’s NEOM has released a video showcasing current progress on its $500 billion megaproject that aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy from oil and boost tourism.

The video shows the construction progress in various regions including The Line, Trojena, Oxagon, and Sindalah.

Sindalah, a luxury island destination, will be the first of NEOM’s regions to open to visitors in 2024. It will act as the main gateway to the Red Sea and offer customised nautical experiences. The island will also have a yacht club, three luxury resorts, a spa, over 50 luxury brands, and 86 piers. Sindalah will continue to be home to approximately 2,000 different marine species, including some that are unique to and can only be found in the Red Sea.

NEOM in Progress – January 2023

Drone footage from December showed how works have already begun on the development of The Line, a futuristic city in the Arabian desert which is being designed to run on 100% renewable energy and prioritize health and well-being for residents and visitors over transportation and infrastructure. The city will be 200 meters wide, 170 kilometers long, and rise 500 meters above sea level, with the capacity to house 9 million people.

Some 200,000 people are expected to attend The Line Experience Exhibition in Riyadh.
Some 200,000 people are expected to attend The Line Experience Exhibition in Riyadh.

According to NEOM’s spokesmen, the city will have no cars but instead feature a high-speed railway for transportation. The video also mentions a new vehicle named “Volocopter”, referred to as “the next generation of transport”.

The city’s design, based on the concept of zero gravity urbanism, will layer city functions vertically and allow inhabitants to move seamlessly in three directions – up, down, and across – offering quick access to offices, schools, parks, and residential facilities.

The Line’s unique modular design also ensures that all facilities and amenities can be accessed within a five-minute walk. And using innovative hydroponic gardens, the city will be able to grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers in half the time of traditional agriculture methods while using minimal space and less water.

The NEOM Project was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the NEOM board of directors, in July and is one of several ongoing megaprojects under the NEOM umbrella, including the Trojena winter sports complex designed by Iraqi British architect Zaha Hadid.

Visitors to The Line Experience Exhibition in Riyadh can book free tickets online and experience the vision of sustainable living with innovative design and infrastructure that The Line represents. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see what life could look like in the smart cities of the future.

Luxury island Sindalah will be the first of NEOM’s regions to launch in 2024
Luxury island Sindalah will be the first of NEOM’s regions to launch in 2024

The NEOM Project: An Overview of the Future Cities

The Neom Project is a futuristic city being built in Saudi Arabia that aims to be a hub for innovation, sustainability, and living. The project has multiple planned areas, each with its own unique features and purposes:

The Line

The Line is a revolutionary new city concept that is being developed within the Neom area. It is a 170 km long and 200 m wide linear city that aims to be completely car-free and sustainable. The design of the city has been modified to combine multiple buildings into one continuous structure, with a glass mirror exterior. The city is large enough to accommodate 9 million residents within walkable communities and with all basic services within a 5-minute walk.

Neom Bay

Neom Bay is the first phase of the Neom Project and is located on the coast of the Red Sea. It is the site of the Neom Bay Airport, which is planned to receive commercial flights between Riyadh and Neom. The development of Neom Bay will include the construction of residential areas, as well as the airport.

Oxagon

Oxagon, originally named Neom Industrial City, is a floating industrial complex that is shaped like an octagon. It is located around 25 km north of the town of Duba and covers an area of 200-250 square km, of which 40 sq km forms the city. The complex will focus on modern manufacturing, industrial research, and development and is expected to become a hub for global trade flows. The plans for Oxagon include a desalination plant, a hydrogen plant, and an oceanographic research center.

Trojena

Trojena is the first major outdoor skiing destination in the Arabian Peninsula and is located in the Sarwat Mountains, about 50 km from the Gulf of Aqaba coast. With elevations ranging from 1,500-2,600 m, the site’s climate is considerably cooler than the rest of Neom’s territory, making it ideal for skiing. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Trojena project in March 2022.

Sindalah

Sindalah is a luxury resort complex that is being built off the coast of the Neom city which is posed to be open to visitors by the end of 2024. It is planned to have an 86 berth marina, three luxury hotels, and could accommodate up to 2,400 visitors daily. The resort complex will have a total volume of 1,100,000 cubic yards.


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