Imagery captures pace of development at Neom's The Line
New aerial imagery shared by a NEOM executive
confirms that concrete construction has begun on The Line, a central feature of
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious NEOM development. The photos also reveal extensive
groundworks, dozens of wind turbines, and large-scale infrastructure activity
across the broader NEOM region.
NEOM is a flagship initiative of Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, aimed at diversifying Saudi Arabia’s economy
beyond oil and gas. Located in the northwest of the country, NEOM is set to
host a collection of futuristic developments with a strong focus on tourism,
technology, and sustainability. The Line is its most iconic project.
Read More Neom
appoints engineering and design firms to fast track THE LINE
Construction Progress
The Line is envisioned as a 170-kilometre linear city
consisting of two parallel skyscrapers, each 500 metres tall and spaced 300
metres apart, housing everything from residential areas to commercial,
educational, and recreational spaces. All activity is intended to occur within
this linear footprint, connected by high-speed rail.
Recent images posted by NEOM’s Chief Operating
Officer Giles Pendleton on LinkedIn depict concrete foundations and structural
walls now in place. One photo shows a long trench with a concrete base and
rising walls, alongside what appears to be black piping and dirt access roads.
This, according to a NEOM spokesperson, is part of a water pipeline for an
adjacent area within the broader NEOM zone.
Renewable Energy and Infrastructure
Two images show over 60 wind turbines installed
in the surrounding desert, although The Line itself is not visible in those shots. Other
photos reveal dozens of cranes and heavy goods vehicles engaged in excavation
and material transport, though their exact operations remain unspecified.
Read More Neom
to offer carbon free urban environment to residents
Pendleton’s caption read:
“NEOM is real part 24.
A good snapshot of progress and a range of NEOM infrastructure projects—from
the water pipeline to new camps completing to massive work at Octagon
harbour—showing things from a very different viewpoint from the air.”
Activity at Oxagon and the Port
Three of the images highlight ongoing
construction at Oxagon,
NEOM’s industrial hub, which includes the Port of NEOM. Visible in the photos are large vessels
and various shoreline industrial activities, although specific details were not
confirmed.
Another image features an accommodation zone with vast, empty parking lots and a view of the Gulf of Aqaba in the distance.
Controversy and Changing Plans
Despite visible progress, The Line remains mired in
controversy and speculation. Official updates from Saudi authorities have been
scarce, and various reports suggest the city may be built in phases or with a
reduced overall length from the original 170km vision.
Initially, the government aimed for 1.5 million
residents by 2030, but this was reportedly scaled back to under 300,000 as of
April 2024—claims which were denied by Saudi Economy and Planning Minister
Faisal Al Ibrahim.
Read More Progress
video captures vast scale of The Line within Neom
NEOM has also faced human rights concerns. In
October 2024, ITV’s Kingdom
Uncovered documentary alleged that 21,000 migrant workers had died
since work on Vision 2030 projects began in 2016. Saudi officials dismissed
these claims as “misinformation.” Major engineering firms linked to NEOM, such
as Mott MacDonald, Bechtel, Aecom, and others, have remained silent on the
matter.
Despite the controversy, the latest imagery
provides a rare look at real-time construction progress on one of the world’s
most ambitious and scrutinized urban megaprojects.
Source: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/
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