Saudi Arabia Reassesses The Line as Construction Advances Under New CEO
SAUDI ARABIA, JUL 14 – Saudi Arabia scales back The Line from 106 miles to 1.5 miles with 300,000 residents amid feasibility concerns and budget shortfalls, Public Investment Fund reviews project viability.
- Saudi Arabia is reassessing The Line, a 170km car-free megacity within NEOM, under a new CEO amid slowed construction and leadership changes by 2025.
- Falling oil prices, weaker foreign investment, and budget shortfalls forced Saudi Arabia to request consulting firms to review The Line's feasibility and scale back its plans.
- Originally designed to house 1.5 million residents by 2030 over 170km, The Line is now expected to cover only 2.4km and host fewer than 300,000 people with major delays anticipated.
- Goldman Sachs forecasted 'pretty significant' budget deficits and scaled-back megaprojects, while the former Neom construction manager, Nadhmi al-Nasr, left in November 2024 amid controversy.
- Despite criticisms involving forced tribal displacements and ethical issues, Neom continues to prioritize The Line, conducting regular evaluations to sustain momentum, enhance efficiency, and ensure the project aligns with its broader strategic goals.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) had compared it to the pyramids of Egypt. Neom, announced in 2016, was to transform Saudi Arabia by 2030, with its futuristic city...
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Saudi Arabia Reviews Gigantic City at Neom Called The Line
Saudi Arabia has asked consulting firms to conduct a strategic review of its ambitious plans for building a futuristic city known as The Line, according to several people familiar with the matter, as the kingdom assesses priorities for its project-related expenditures.
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