JEDDAH,SAUDI ARABIA: According to the most recent information on the project released by the de facto ruler of the kingdom, a futuristic Saudi megacity will include two skyscrapers reaching across an expanse of desert and mountain territory.
The Red Sea megacity NEOM, the centrepiece of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s effort to diversify the Gulf state’s oil-dependent economy, is composed of parallel structures of mirror-encased skyscrapers that stretch over 170 kilometres (more than 100 miles). These structures are collectively known as The Line.
Since it was first shown in 2017, NEOM has drawn criticism for its extravagant proposals, including flying taxis and robot maids, even as economists and architects have questioned its viability.In a speech Monday night, Prince Mohammed outlined an even grander vision, outlining a car-free utopia that would end up becoming the world’s most livable city “by far.”
