The Line, linear smart city in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
The Line is a planned residential city in Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia, designed as a continuous structure about 170 kilometers long, 200 meters wide, and up to 500 meters tall. Today, you can only find earthworks and scattered foundations on site, as the original concept has been scaled back after financial and technical difficulties.
The project was announced in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and was supposed to be partially completed by 2030. After financial setbacks and shifting priorities, plans have been revised several times and timelines pushed back to at least 2045.
The name 'The Line' refers to its straight form, meant to stretch through the desert like a single ribbon. Local tribes resisted displacement, and the project shows tension between futuristic planning and existing ways of life in the region.
The area is currently a construction site without public access, and there are no visitor facilities on site. Those interested in the concept can check official information online to get a sense of the planned vision.
The concept recalls early ideas for linear cities from the 19th century that were never built. Experts worry that the mirrored facades could confuse migrating birds, which would create environmental problems for the region.
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