NEOM — the city of the future

In the middle of the Saudi desert, they are (already) building the city of the future. Its main object is a colossal horizontal skyscraper

One of the most ambitious architectural projects of the 21st century — Neom — is being built right now in Saudi Arabia by order of Crown Prince bin Salman.

Architects from all over the world are involved in its creation. According to the authors' vision, ski resorts, floating neighborhoods, and underground high-speed trains should appear in the middle of the desert. The key object of Neom is the mirror skyscraper "The Line" with a length of eight Manhattans. According to the prince's plan, by 2045, Neom, which will become a "state within a state," will be home to nine million people. Currently, a huge trench has been dug at the site of "The Line." Meanwhile, construction of housing for the prince himself has already been completed.

According to preliminary estimates, half a trillion dollars will be spent on the construction of the supercomplex; according to (https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-mbs-neom-saudi-arabia/) a former Neom employee, the amount could double during the process. But even if we rely on the estimated costs, this is already the most expensive of all known futuristic projects in the world (at least those whose cost is publicly known).

Questions & answers

Where is the city of Neom being built and who commissioned it?

Neom is being built in Saudi Arabia on the orders of Crown Prince bin Salman. It is one of the most ambitious architectural projects of the 21st century, with architects from around the world working on it.

What is the "Line" in the Neom project?

The "Line" is a key object in Neom, a mirrored skyscraper eight Manhattans long. According to the plan, it is a horizontal skyscraper that will become the city's main architectural landmark.

What facilities are planned to be built in Neom?

According to the designers' vision, Neom should feature ski resorts, floating districts, and underground high-speed trains among other infrastructure facilities.

How many people are planned to settle in Neom?

According to the prince's plan, by 2045 Neom, which will become a "state within a state," will be home to nine million people.

What is the cost of building Neom?

According to preliminary estimates, construction of the megacomplex will cost half a trillion dollars. In the opinion of a former Neom employee, the amount could double during the process. It is the most expensive of all known futuristic projects in the world.