Engineers Unveil the Construction Blueprint Behind NEOM’s The Line

Building the Backbone of a Futuristic City

According to project engineers, Phase 1 of The Line will cover 2.4 kilometres, supported by forty skyscraper “cores”, each 500 meters tall. These vertical structures will form the city’s foundation, connected by two million tons of structural steel trusses that create the elevated decks and platforms defining The Line’s horizontal profile.

Much of the steelwork is prefabricated at ground level, a decision that ensures precision and speed in the construction process. Once lifted into position, the exterior will be clad in 2.1 million square meters of mirrored glass, giving The Line its iconic reflective façade.

A Vertical City Within a City

The lower levels of the framework will house high-speed transit systems, capable of connecting both ends of the city in just 20 minutes. Above these transit layers, engineers will construct residential towers, office spaces, and community areas, all designed so that residents can reach essential services within five minutes on foot.

This vertical design replaces conventional horizontal sprawl, making The Line a compact yet dynamic ecosystem that integrates work, living, and leisure within a single architectural structure.

Engineering Feats on an Unprecedented Scale

Among the project’s most remarkable features is a 350-meter-tall cruise ship gateway, which will act as a monumental entrance to the city. The structure opens to a man-made basin connected to the Red Sea, forming a marina once seawater channels are released.

Engineers are also assembling a 46,000-seat stadium, positioned high above the main decks, and other massive components, some weighing up to 11,000 tons, at ground level before hoisting them into place nearly half a kilometer above ground.

Each section of Phase 1, divided into three 800-meter-long segments, will serve as a prototype for the larger project, which aims to eventually stretch across 170 kilometers and house up to nine million residents.

Sustainability at the Core of NEOM’s Vision

Beyond its scale and engineering complexity, The Line represents NEOM’s vision for a sustainable, self-sufficient future. The city will run entirely on renewable energy, supported by advanced water recycling systems, vertical farming, and green mobility infrastructure.

Every aspect of its planning is designed to minimize environmental impact, creating what NEOM describes as a zero-carbon, human-centric city powered by innovation and clean technology.

When complete, The Line will stand as one of the most advanced urban engineering achievements in the world, reshaping how cities are designed, constructed, and inhabited for generations to come.

Image credit: Neom and Giles Pendleton