Saudi Arabia has announced a major shift in its approach to Neom, the megaproject originally designed to transform a vast stretch of desert on the Red Sea into a futuristic economic hub.
After years of delays, budget overruns, and strategic reassessment, Riyadh is significantly scaling back the plans for Neom and its most iconic component, The Line.
The project was launched as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, intended to reduce Saudi Arabia’s reliance on oil revenue and project the kingdom as a global leader in technology, tourism, and innovation.
The Line’s Scope Reduced
Originally envisioned as a 170-kilometer linear city housing up to 9 million people, The Line was to run on 100% renewable energy with no cars or roads and preserve much of the surrounding land. But the centerpiece is now being radically downscaled.
Instead of completing the full length as initially planned, Saudi officials are reconceptualizing The Line with a far smaller footprint and focus. Part of this strategy includes potentially repurposing the development as a data center and AI infrastructure hub, leveraging the region’s natural resources, such as Red Sea cooling for data centers, to attract tech investment.
Trojena and Other Key Projects Postponed
In addition to The Line, plans to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Trojena, a planned ski resort and mountain destination within Neom, have been indefinitely postponed amid the reevaluation of priorities. More
