Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city takes shape with new project updates

As Saudi Arabia continues to build its groundbreaking mirrored megacity, new developments are taking shape, revealing exciting details about the project’s ambitious scope.

Government officials have provided an update on its progress and revealed the architectural firms tasked with bringing this futuristic vision to life, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media. 

The ultimate plan for The Line is to span 170 km (105 miles), although the first phase will cover just 2.4 km (1.5 miles). Despite its smaller initial scope, this phase will feature a 500-meter-high (1,640-foot) structure with a width of 200 meters (656 feet). It will house an air-conditioned city designed for around 300,000 residents.

The most prominent of the chosen firms is the US-based architecture studio, Gensler, renowned for designing the Shanghai Tower, the world's third-tallest building. Gensler has been selected for its expertise in city planning and design coordination, and will also oversee the development of transport hubs and public spaces such as parks and other community areas. 

Meanwhile, Austria's Delugan Meissl Associated Architects has been appointed as the urban designer for the project. This firm will be responsible for the overall concept, as well as creating the detailed master plan for the first phase. They will also focus on aspects like microclimate and ecology, mobility and logistics, and sustainability. The UK's Mott MacDonald has joined the Line project as the city infrastructure engineer. 

This role is considered one of the most challenging, as it involves the essential but often overlooked systems required for the smooth operation of a futuristic city in the desert, such as sewage, water, and energy. It's a formidable task, and Saudi authorities have already announced that AI technology and extensive surveillance will be deployed to ensure efficiency.

"As development and construction of the Line progresses, we have established a unique partnership that brings world-leading city design and engineering expertise to deliver Phase One," says Denis Hickey, Chief Development Officer. "Collaboration is at the core of this, with a city-wide best practice group that will showcase how innovation can change the way we consider, design, and build cities forever. This reflects Neom's vision and global ambition." 

By Naila Huseynova