 [Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Saudi Arabia has been forced to scale back its $1.5trillion plans for a 106-mile linear desert city, according to reports, in a humiliating decision for the kingdom. The Line - part of the country's audacious and futuristic NEOM project - was meant to be home to around 1.5 million residents by the end of the decade.
Now, according to people familiar with the project, the development will only stretch 1.5 miles and house fewer than 300,000 residents by 2030. As a result of the reduction to the construction of The Line, at least one contractor has started dismissing workers it employs on the site, Bloomberg reports. Stunning concept images released by the kingdom in 2022 showed a vast, mirrored structure cutting through the desert near crystal blue ocean waters.
It is one of several developments that form the country's NEOM project - which also includes an industrial city, ports and tourism developments. But The Line was the jewel in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 project, which was set in motion to diversify his country's oil dependent economy, as well as its society and culture, and improve the image on the world stage. The Kingdom said the project, which is expected to cost $1.5 trillion, would be an 'unprecedented living experience' that preserves 'surrounding nature'.
The megacity was to feature two parallel skyscrapers extending across a swathe of desert and mountain terrain, with mirrored facades on the outside. Saudi officials said it would be built in stages, and would eventually cover a 106-mile stretch of desert along the coast of the Red Sea in the western Tabuk province. However, Bloomberg reports that these plans have now been dramatically scaled back - with the 106 mile structure being reduced to just 1.5 miles. It is not clear whether it will still feature its twin skyscrapers seen in the concept imagery, or if the whole project will have to be reconsidered.
Citing its sources, the publication reports that Saudi Arabia has not yet approved NEOM's 2024 budget, and that its vast expenditure is beginning to concern officials. Some projects outlined in the Vision 2030 are already expected to be delayed past the end of the decade, with Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan saying in December that longer is needed to 'build factories' and 'sufficient human resources.' 'The delay or rather the extension of some projects will serve the economy,' he said. NEOM was first announced in 2017, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivering a presentation on The Line in July 2022. 
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