Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince reveals project ‘THE LINE’ in futuristic city of NEOM

[ASKardar]

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NEOM, announced the launch of "THE LINE" in the city of NEOM, a new model for the future of urban societies aimed at ensuring balance with nature.

THE LINE is a new 170-kilometer (km) belt of hyper-connected communities, designed without cars or roads and in concert with nature. The communities will be powered by artificial intelligence technology designed to learn and improve the lives of residents and businesses.

The project is part of NEOM and the Kingdom's Vision 2030 plan, an ambitious program designed to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy. THE LINE will generate around 380,000 job opportunities and contribute 180 billion riyals ($48 billion) to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, according to a statement.

“Throughout history, cities were built to protect their citizens. After the Industrial Revolution, cities prioritized machines, cars and factories over people. In cities that are viewed as the world’s most advanced, people spend years of their lives commuting. By 2050, commute durations will double. By 2050, one billion people will have to relocate due to rising CO2 emissions and sea levels. 90 percent of people breathe polluted air," the Crown Prince said in the statement.

“Why should we sacrifice nature for the sake of development? Why should seven million people die every year because of pollution? Why should we lose one million people every year due to traffic accidents? And why should we accept wasting years of our lives commuting?” the Crown Prince added.

"Therefore, we need to transform the concept of a conventional city into that of a futuristic one … Today, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NEOM, I present to you THE LINE. A city of a million residents with a length of 170 km that preserves 95 percent of nature within NEOM, with zero cars, zero streets and zero carbon emissions."

One of the largest airports in the world

Nadhmi al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, later told Al Arabiya that THE LINE would also involve construction of a new airport, and that it would be one of the largest in the world.

“Three years ago, the Saudi Crown Prince launched the initial vision of NEOM, a dream back in 2017. The world has been asking what we have been doing over the course of the last three years. We worked for more than two years to change this dream and vision into a set of strategical plans. The team worked with experts from all around in the world to ensure that this vision is turned into strategies,” al-Nasr added.

THE LINE has also been designed to redefine the concept of urban development, putting people at the center, instead of road infrastructure – a first for such a project in 150 years.

Rather than normal city commutes, ultra-high-speed transit and autonomous mobility solutions have been designed to reduce travel time, and make it easier for residents to focus on their health. The longest journey in the development is expected to take no longer than 20 minutes, according to the statement.

With sustainability at the heart of the NEOM project, THE LINE will be 100 percent powered by clean energy, for a pollution-free, cleaner, and more sustainable environment.

Construction is set to get underway in the first quarter of this year as part of ongoing development work at the NEOM site.

NEOM

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of NEOM project in 2017. The city is positioned to become a high-tech, next generation city, and global center for innovation, trade and creativity in the Kingdom.

The first three characters of the projects name, NEO, are derived from the Latin word for “new,” while the last character, M, is an abbreviation of the Arabic word “Mostaqbal,” meaning “future”.

NEOM is one of Saudi Arabia’s mega-projects, other examples include the Red Sea Development Project and Qiddiya, all aimed at boosting the Kingdom’s tourism sector – a central tenant of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan that aims to transform the country’s economy for a post-hydrocarbon age.

The city’s 26,500 square km (10,230 square mile) development is located in the northwestern Tabuk Province and will span from Saudi Arabia’s Egyptian and Jordanian borders, rendering NEOM the first private zone to span to three countries. More than $500 billion has been pledged to complete the project by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, on of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...s-project-The-Line-in-futuristic-city-of-NEOM

 

[Cliftonite]

Aren't the Pakistani Youtubers, like that psuedo-journalist Imran Khan, prophesizing NEOM to be the first step in gReAteR iSrAeL and arrival of Dajjal?

 

[flameboard]

MBS heading this it’s only a matter of time until a major controversy. Sorry but the man’s outta touch...

According to Wikipedia Khashoggi murder made invest a mess for this project, and the locals (Howeitat) that inhabit the land are facing death threats and eviction to make space for a new city.

 

[Titanium100]

A great leap into the future

 

[Clutch]

Aren't the Pakistani Youtubers, like that psuedo-journalist Imran Khan, prophesizing NEOM to be the first step in gReAteR iSrAeL and arrival of Dajjal?

Everybody has a mic these days.... Even Hindutva Disinfo agents. Truth is as clear as mud.

In today's world reality and appearances are usually opposite to each other.

 

[Titanium100]

Everybody has a mic these days.... Even Hindutva Disinfo agents. Truth is as clear as mud.

In today's world reality and appearances are usually opposite to each other.

There are alot of conspiracy theorists today. I was also reading people saying that Saudi Arabia wants to destroy the real Mount Sinai in Jabel al Musa area which is another conspiracy theory Saudi Arabia has been guarding and preserving this ancient holy place and important relic for decades and centuries but NEOM is far outside the ancient holy lands of Mount Sinai and the other places Moses and his people travelled thru when they fled from Egypt's pharoah into Midian lands

 

[Titanium100]

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Chairman of the NEOM Company Board of Directors, today announced THE LINE, a revolution in urban living at NEOM, and a blueprint for how people and planet can co-exist in harmony.

THE LINE, a 170km belt of hyper-connected future communities, without cars and roads and built around nature, is a direct response to some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today such as legacy infrastructure, pollution, traffic, and human congestion.


A cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030 and an economic engine for the Kingdom, it will drive diversification and aims to contribute 380,000 jobs of the future and SAR180 billion (USD48 bn) to domestic GDP by 2030.

His Royal Highness said: "Throughout history, cities were built to protect their citizens. After the Industrial Revolution, cities prioritized machines, cars and factories over people. In cities that are viewed as the world's most advanced, people spend years of their lives commuting. By 2050, commute durations will double. By 2050, one billion people will have to relocate due to rising CO2 emissions and sea levels. 90% of people breathe polluted air. Why should we sacrifice nature for the sake of development? Why should seven million people die every year because of pollution? Why should we lose one million people every year due to traffic accidents? And why should we accept wasting years of our lives commuting?"

"Therefore, we need to transform the concept of a conventional city into that of a futuristic one," His Royal Highness added. "Today, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NEOM, I present to you THE LINE. A city of a million residents with a length of 170 km that preserves 95% of nature within NEOM, with zero cars, zero streets and zero carbon emissions."

THE LINE is the first time in 150 years that a major urban development has been designed around people, not roads. Walkability will define life on THE LINE – all essential daily services, such as schools, medical clinics, leisure facilities, as well as green spaces, will be within a five-minute walk.

Ultra-high-speed transit and autonomous mobility solutions will make travel easier and give residents the opportunity to reclaim time to spend on health and wellbeing. It is expected no journey will be longer than 20 minutes.

THE LINE's communities will be cognitive, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), continuously learning predictive ways to make life easier, creating time for both residents and businesses. An estimated 90% of available data will be harnessed to enhance infrastructure capabilities far beyond the 1% typically utilized in existing smart cities.

Redefining sustainability, THE LINE will comprise carbon-positive urban developments powered by 100% clean energy, providing pollution-free, healthier and more sustainable environments for residents. Mixed-use communities will be built around nature, instead of over it.

NEOM's sectors of the future, headed by global industry leaders, are already addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges. They are pioneering a new marketplace for breakthrough innovations and creating opportunities to attract talent, investors and partners to become part of its business ecosystem.

Construction of THE LINE will commence in Q1 of 2021. THE LINE is one of the most complex and challenging infrastructure projects in the world and forms part of extensive development work already underway at NEOM.

NEOM is part of the world-class, diversified portfolio of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world.


About NEOM

NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a New Future might look like. It is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory – a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional liveability, creating thriving businesses, and reinventing environmental conservation.

NEOM will be the home and workplace to more than a million residents from around the world. It will include towns and cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centres, sports and entertainment venues, and tourist destinations. As a hub for innovation, entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies will come to research, incubate and commercialize new technologies and enterprises in ground-breaking ways. Residents of NEOM will embody an international ethos and embrace a culture of exploration, risk-taking and diversity - all supported by a progressive law compatible with international norms and conducive to economic growth.

For further information

HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces THE LINE at NEOM

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 10, 2021 PRNewswire/ -- His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Chairman of the NEOM Company Board of Directors,...

www.prnewswire.com

................................................................................................................................................

NEOM wikipedia page

Neom - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jamahir]

I myself wanted to post the thread but it has been done already.

1. I myself have been, for a couple of years on PDF, been talking of a similar vision for cities where privately-owned personal transport vehicles ( cars, scooters and motorcycles ) should be banned. I wrote such a post to @Naofumi just yesterday here ( please do read it, it is slightly more lengthier ).

2. This sort of thing should have been part of the '100 Smart Cities' program announced by the Indian Prime Minister Modi in 2014. But his BJP party is not known for intellectuality. What his party-led governments in some Indian states have done is planned to construct even more flyovers and roads which are an obsolete idea, and these new flyovers and roads will make the mostly non-thinking Indian middle class to buy even more private vehicles.

3. About the Saudi project, if there are no roads how will the police, ambulances, building construction vehicles, online food and other items delivery vehicles, fire engines etc cross the city ?

---

@ps3linux @fitpOsitive @Hamartia Antidote @Fawadqasim1 @Goenitz @Indos

 

[S.Y.A]

3. About the Saudi project, if there are no roads how will the police, ambulances, building construction vehicles, online food and other items delivery vehicles, fire engines etc cross the city ?

good question. maybe everything will be rail mounted, things like monorail (short distances) and hyperloop (long distance travel). not so sure about police though, maybe they will use some sort of jetpacks ?

 

[fallstuff]

This guy is an abomination.

 

[S.Y.A]

About the Saudi project, if there are no roads how will the police, ambulances, building construction vehicles, online food and other items delivery vehicles, fire engines etc cross the city ?

I assume they will be employing drones to monitor the city, maybe they will employ drones to put out the fires, or transport patients. but the police will still need something.

 

[jamahir]

not so sure about police though, maybe they will use some sort of jetpacks ?

I assume they will be employing drones to monitor the city

Hmm, but what about privacy in people's gardens ?

maybe they will employ drones to put out the fires

Maybe. If I am not wrong China demonstrated such a system. @CHN Bamboo @TaiShang ?

or transport patients.

Wouldn't it be too complex : the patients, their survival machinery and the medics to travel in the drone ambulance ?

but the police will still need something.

Yes.

---

@AgnosticIndian, forgot to tag you in post# 8.

 

[Abu Dhabi]

3. About the Saudi project, if there are no roads how will the police, ambulances, building construction vehicles, online food and other items delivery vehicles, fire engines etc cross the city ?

I assume the Entirety of this project will have paved streets all over where the above can use when needed

 

[fitpOsitive]

I myself wanted to post the thread but it has been done already.

1. I myself have been, for a couple of years on PDF, been talking of a similar vision for cities where privately-owned personal transport vehicles ( cars, scooters and motorcycles ) should be banned. I wrote such a post to @Naofumi just yesterday here ( please do read it, it is slightly more lengthier ).

2. This sort of thing should have been part of the '100 Smart Cities' program announced by the Indian Prime Minister Modi in 2014. But his BJP party is not known for intellectuality. What his party-led governments in some Indian states have done is planned to construct even more flyovers and roads which are an obsolete idea, and these new flyovers and roads will make the mostly non-thinking Indian middle class to buy even more private vehicles.

3. About the Saudi project, if there are no roads how will the police, ambulances, building construction vehicles, online food and other items delivery vehicles, fire engines etc cross the city ?

---

@ps3linux @fitpOsitive @Hamartia Antidote @Fawadqasim1 @Goenitz @Indos

Actually let's divide traffic, this will solve the isuue.
Public transport can be divided into two parts. Main routes, where govt public transport is feasible. Other smaller routes where govt setup is not possible, private sector can be brought in. If private sector is monitored properly, it can function perfectly fine.
Other traffic like ambulances fire brigade can go anywhere, and for that areas, streets and houses in cities should be properly marked. That's it.

 

[jamahir]

Other smaller routes where govt setup is not possible, private sector can be brought in. If private sector is monitored properly, it can function perfectly fine.

By "private sector" you mean taxi service like Uber, Careem and Ola ?