The Line Scaled Back

Financial pressures and tech ambitions drive a new direction for Neom's The Line

Author

Yagmur Baydır
January 29, 2026

Dear PA reader,

Saudi Arabia’s grand experiment with future cities is entering a new chapter, as Neom and its most iconic element, The Line, are being scaled back and rethought. What began as a sweeping vision of a 170-kilometer linear metropolis is now evolving into a more pragmatic mix of phased construction, revised timelines, and a growing focus on data, AI, and infrastructure. The growing questions and delays around projects like the Trojena mountain resort reflect a broader recalibration between architectural spectacle and economic reality.

At the same time, the kingdom is doubling down on architecture as a global stage, using sports and entertainment to project its ambitions outward. A new Formula 1 track, futuristic Sky Stadium concepts for FIFA 2034, and a lineup of World Cup venues point to a strategy where extreme architecture, global events, and national branding increasingly converge.

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