A world without cars, without the chaos of traffic jams and the relentless honking? Sounds unreal, right? Yet, this isn’t a page from a fairytale; it’s the reality envisioned for Saudi Arabia’s futuristic Neom City. What seems like an extraordinary idea is merely an ordinary description of daily life in this $1.5 trillion megaproject. Denis Hickey, Neom’s chief development officer, recently offered a glimpse into the remarkable lifestyle awaiting residents of The Line. This fully integrated, high-density, car-free city is designed with groundbreaking architecture and an advanced transport network at its core.
While projects like Sindalah have already been inaugurated, much about Neom remains an enigma. Graphics and social media promotions paint a dazzling picture, enhanced by grand orchestral music, but fundamental questions persist. Fortunately, officials are finally addressing them. How will people navigate a city unlike anything built before?
With no cars, will they walk the entire stretch? If that were the case, many interested observers would be relieved to know that the initially envisioned 170-kilometer-long, 200-meter-wide, 500-meter-tall linear city has been scaled down to 2.4 kilometers, with completion set for 2030. However, the experience of moving through The Line will be unlike anything in existence.
For the first time, Hickey has expanded on what life inside The Line will indeed be like. Essentially, this is a three-dimensional vertical metropolis constructed with modular sections stacked in a linear format. Instead of a traditional city layout, The Line is built around its residents, allowing effortless movement both vertically and horizontally. “Everything you need will be within a five-minute walk,” Hickey explained. “You will step outside your home and immediately have access to schools, restaurants, workspaces, hospitals, and entertainment, without ever needing a car. This isn’t just about making a city compact; it’s about designing a place that prioritizes human well-being over congestion.”
He continued, “This isn’t a single building; it’s an entire city, with its own grid system. Think about Manhattan. You don’t need a car there because the subway and avenues make everything accessible. Now imagine evolving that concept, not just moving horizontally but also vertically.” Replacing cars, roads, and traffic jams will be an ultra-efficient six-tier mobility system, combining a high-speed underground rail network, general mass transit, and rapid vertical transportation. The high-speed rail (HSR) will allow residents to traverse the entire length of The Line in just 20 minutes, while Neom International Airport will be only 25 minutes away.
General Mass Transit (GMT) stations will be placed every 1.5 to 2 kilometers, ensuring that residents are always within a short distance of reliable transport. Moving around The Line will feel like stepping into a sci-fi film, as rapid vertical transport nodes will replace traditional elevators, enabling movement both upward and sideways. While some of Neom’s ambitious promises, like a fake moon and flying robots, may never materialize, The Line itself remains a revolutionary development that will teach people to live in a world without noise, congestion, or cars.
