At a Glance
- Neom was planned as a 110-mile linear city with walls 1,600 ft high and 660 ft wide.
- The design promised to house 9 million people and a 20-minute subway across its length.
- In 2022, construction began, but delays and budget overruns have led to a pivot toward data-center hubs.
- Why it matters: The shift signals a major change in Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global AI leader.
The ambitious megacity project known as Neom, launched in 2022, is undergoing a dramatic scale-down. Originally envisioned as a futuristic city that would house millions and eliminate streets and cars, it is now being re-imagined as a data-center hub to support Saudi Arabia’s AI ambitions.
Original Vision
The initial plan for Neom was to create a city that would be completely sustainable and street-free. It would be a linear strip 110 miles long, with walls that climbed 1,600 ft and a width of just 660 ft. The design called for a subway that would let residents travel from one end to the other in 20 minutes.
The city was meant to accommodate up to 9 million people. The idea was to build a self-contained environment that would require no cars and would be powered entirely by renewable sources.
The Line
The Line was the flagship component of Neom. It was described as a high-profile, linear city that would stretch 110 miles and be surrounded by walls 1,600 ft tall. Its width would be only 660 ft.
Key features included:
- A 20-minute subway connecting the two ends.
- No streets or cars within the city.
- A fully sustainable infrastructure.
These features were meant to showcase a new model of urban living.
Challenges and Setbacks
Construction began in 2022, but the project quickly faced delays, setbacks, and significant budget overruns. Developers started to push back on outlandish ideas such as an upside-down building that would hang from a bridge.
Last year, the CEO overseeing Neom abruptly quit, and rumors began that the project would shift from a full-fledged city to a smaller proof-of-concept.
According to a Financial Times report, the project is now expected to be far smaller than originally planned, and may even cease to be a city at all.
Human Cost
The land required for Neom was acquired by evicting local residents. The Saudi government reportedly executed three people who refused to vacate. Many construction workers, mostly migrants, have worked under conditions described as slavery-like.
Human rights groups have documented dozens of deaths and many serious injuries among workers on the project.
New Direction
The latest reports suggest that Neom could pivot to become a hub for data centers. This aligns with Prince Mohammed’s broader goal of positioning Saudi Arabia as a major player in the AI space.
The shift to data centers would mean a reduction in the city’s size and a focus on infrastructure that supports AI and data processing rather than residential living.
Key Takeaways
- Neom’s original vision was a 110-mile, street-free city designed to house 9 million people.
- The flagship Line component was a linear city with walls 1,600 ft high and a width of 660 ft.
- Construction began in 2022 but faced delays, budget overruns, and leadership changes.
- Human rights concerns include evictions, executions, and migrant worker abuse.
- The project may now become a data-center hub, signaling a shift away from its original urban ambition.
The future of Neom remains uncertain, but the trend toward data-center infrastructure reflects a broader strategy to leverage Saudi Arabia’s resources for AI development.
