Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project has unveiled detailed insights into how engineers plan to construct The Line, an ambitious megacity designed to redefine urban living. According to project engineers, the structure will begin with the construction of forty skyscraper “cores,” each standing 500 meters tall. These cores will rise from the 2.4-kilometer foundation of Phase 1, forming the backbone of the city’s linear framework.
Each of these towering cores will be interconnected by approximately two million tons of structural steel trusses. These trusses will form the main decks and horizontal platforms that define The Line’s distinctive shape. Much of the steelwork is being prefabricated in controlled environments at ground level before being lifted into position, ensuring precision and efficiency in the construction process. Once assembled, the structure will be clad in 2.1 million square meters of mirrored glass, creating the reflective facade that has become the project’s signature visual element.
The lower levels of this horizontal framework will accommodate high-speed transit systems designed to connect end-to-end in just 20 minutes. Above these transit decks, additional buildings and community spaces will be constructed, creating a compact, vertical environment where residents can access essential services within a five-minute walk.
The Line’s design also features striking architectural elements, including a 350-meter-tall cruise ship gateway and a 46,000-seat stadium situated high above the main decks. Engineers are assembling many of these large components at ground level, some weighing up to 11,000 tons, before hoisting them nearly half a kilometer into place. The gateway will open to a basin connected to the Red Sea, forming a marina once coastal plugs are removed and seawater is channeled into the new waterway.
Phase 1 of The Line spans a 2.4-kilometer stretch, divided into three sections, each approximately 800 meters long. Once completed, the full development is projected to extend across 170 kilometers and accommodate up to nine million residents.
The Line is part of NEOM’s broader vision for sustainable, technology-driven urban living. The city will operate entirely on renewable energy and integrate advanced water recycling systems and vertical farming facilities to support self-sufficient living. With its combination of engineering innovation and environmental focus, The Line represents one of the most ambitious construction projects ever undertaken in modern urban planning.
Image credit: Neom/Giles Pendleton via LinkedIn
