In the vast desert of Saudi Arabia, a groundbreaking and awe-inspiring project is quietly unfolding—NEOM Future City. This planned city carries Saudi Arabia’s limitless hopes and expectations for the future. NEOM is not just the construction of a city; it is a bold exploration and practice of future lifestyles, embodying a perfect combination of technology, sustainable development, ecological protection, and social innovation.
Grand Blueprint
The planned area of NEOM Future City spans approximately 26,500 square kilometers, almost equivalent to the size of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. This vast scale is truly astonishing. NEOM is strategically located near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, with access to the world’s busiest maritime trade route through the Suez Canal. This provides NEOM with a unique advantage for future commercial development and positions it as a global trade and energy hub.
The design concept of NEOM focuses on innovation, sustainable development, and smart city technology, aiming to set a new global standard for city development. The city will be entirely powered by renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydrogen, striving for zero-carbon emissions. This vision aligns with global trends of sustainable development and sets a new benchmark for Saudi Arabia’s energy transformation.
The overall layout of the city includes several unique and futuristic zones. Among these, the most eye-catching project is “The Line.” This linear city is designed to stretch 170 kilometers in length, 500 meters in height, and only 200 meters in width. Its outer walls are made of mirror-like glass, shining brightly under the sun, resembling a dazzling ribbon that crosses the desert. “The Line” is known for its “zero-gravity urbanism” design, where residential, entertainment, office, and production areas will be arranged vertically along a straight line. In this city, traditional infrastructure, such as cars and roads, which are carbon-intensive, will be eliminated and replaced with an efficient, intelligent transportation system. A high-speed rail line will run through the entire city, allowing residents to travel from one end to the other in less than 20 minutes. Additionally, residents can walk to all public facilities within five minutes, achieving ultimate convenience and efficiency in daily life.
“Oxagon,” a floating octagon-shaped port city, is another highlight of NEOM. Designed by the renowned Danish architectural firm BIG, Oxagon will incorporate the principles of Industry 4.0, using digital supply chains and automated facilities to drive Saudi Arabia’s trade and industrial development. Oxagon will become the next-generation fully automated port, connecting the world with integrated infrastructure, greatly boosting Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness.
Another remarkable project is the “Trojena” mountainous city, designed as a year-round skiing and adventure destination. Focused on eco-tourism and natural conservation, Trojena will offer abundant outdoor sports facilities and breathtaking natural landscapes, making it a unique place for both residents and visitors. The project is expected to be completed by 2026, ready for the 2029 Winter Olympics.
Additionally, the luxurious island resort “Sindalah,” located in the Red Sea, will provide a high-end resort experience, attracting global tourists with its pristine natural environment.
Construction Progress and Challenges
Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the $500 billion investment for NEOM Future City on October 24, 2017, top global engineering companies have joined the project. Several Chinese companies have also actively participated in the construction process, leveraging their advantages in equipment, technology, and experience to play key roles in critical projects.
For example, China Railway Construction Corporation is handling the construction of Tunnel No. 4 in NEOM’s transportation system, a key underground project. Despite challenging geological conditions, five tunnel sections have been completed and handed over, and Tunnel No. 4 is expected to be completed on time, providing more working space for the main tunnel. The China Power Construction Corporation East China Institute is working on a 152-kilometer coastal and mountainous segment, which includes pipeline installation, water stations, and pump stations, ensuring the water supply needs for the construction site.
However, such a large-scale project inevitably faces numerous challenges. From a technical perspective, designing a 170-kilometer linear city in the desert and ensuring its structural integrity, safe and efficient transportation, and energy supply are enormous tasks. How to ensure the stability of energy transmission across the city, how to build a safe high-speed rail system in such an extreme environment, and how to carry out large-scale construction without damaging the fragile desert ecosystem are all issues that need to be addressed. On the financial side, although Saudi Arabia has strong financial resources, the $500 billion investment for the entire project is a massive expenditure for any country. Properly managing funding and ensuring the continuous flow of money throughout the construction process is a major challenge. Additionally, the project faces issues like environmental protection, human resource management, and attracting global talent to the construction effort.
Strategic Significance
The construction of NEOM is one of the core projects under Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” and carries profound strategic importance. For a long time, Saudi Arabia’s economy has heavily relied on oil, but the non-renewable nature of oil resources and the shifting global energy landscape have made Saudi Arabia realize the urgent need for economic diversification. NEOM is a critical step toward achieving this goal. By focusing on high-tech industries, attracting global talent, and reducing reliance on oil, NEOM will inject new vitality into Saudi Arabia’s sustainable economic development.
Moreover, NEOM is an important platform for Saudi Arabia to showcase its modern, open, and innovative image to the world. Through NEOM, Saudi Arabia aims to demonstrate its active transformation in social, economic, and technological fields, enhancing its international influence and competitiveness. The construction of NEOM will also drive the development of surrounding regions, create numerous jobs, improve living standards, and contribute to the stability and prosperity of Saudi society.
NEOM Future City is undoubtedly a historic and transformative project. With its grand blueprint, challenging construction process, and profound strategic significance, it attracts global attention. Although the road ahead is full of challenges, we have every reason to believe that with the firm determination of the Saudi government and the collective efforts of global forces, this future city in the desert will soon rise, becoming a milestone in the history of urban development and offering us a vision of future living.
