Latest news with #TheLine


New York Post
22-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Saudi Arabia's ambitious $500B ‘The Line' development is getting a reality check — and going under a microscope
Saudi Arabia's plan to build a mirrored 'landscraper' city is now under the microscope. The wealthy Middle Eastern country is endeavoring to build a 105-mile linear city taller than the Empire State Building, but there may be recalibrations ahead. The kingdom recently tapped consultants to review the feasibility of their futuristic plans, insiders told Bloomberg. The Line was announced in 2017 as a zero-carbon city built between two glass skyscrapers. The lean metropolis, located in Saudi Arabia's northwestern desert, is designed to rise 1,600 feet high and house 9 million people. Advertisement Sci-fi-like renderings show networks of towers, walkways, an artificial river, hanging greenery and an end-to-end high speed rail. The car-less, road-less metropolis will cost an estimated $500 billion. 6 A rendering of the 105-mile Line as it reaches the coast. NEOM/AFP via Getty Images 6 A handout picture shows the design plan for the interior of the zero-carbon city. NEOM/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement 6 The Line is slated for completion in 2030, but experts are skeptical. NEOM/AFP via Getty Images The Line's sheer scale and high-tech surveillance infrastructure generated controversy from the beginning. The country's economic minister reaffirmed its ambitious 2030 completion deadline amid public scrutiny last year, but outside experts have proposed timelines closer to five decades. The Line is just one piece of a hyper-futuristic desert complex called Neom. The sprawling development project, funded from the coffers of Saudi Arabia's oil-rich sovereign wealth fund, plays into Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 — an effort to move its economy away from dependency on oil revenues. A unit of the country's public investment fund recently tapped consulting firms to take a look at plans for The Line, with a likely eye towards cost and feasibility. Advertisement 6 A satellite image of Neom construction progress. Gallo Images via Getty Images Neom, in a statement to Bloomberg, pointed out that strategic reviews of large developments are commonplace. 'The Line remains a strategic priority and Neom is focused on maintaining operational continuity, improving efficiencies and accelerating progress to match the overall vision and objectives of the project,' the statement said. But the move comes amid global scrutiny of the wealthy country's radical infrastructure agenda and pressures on public finances. The ambitious pet project of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was pitched at a time when the country was on better financial footing. The Saudi budget deficit grew in 2024 as the price of oil fell below what was needed to balance its budget. Advertisement 6 The Line's ambitious timeline or massive scale may need to be recalibrated. NEOM/AFP via Getty Images 6 An aerial view of construction on The Line in Neom. Giles Pendleton, The Line at NEOM While Neom and The Line could proceed as planned, it's possible that this strategic review will result in a smaller scale and a longer timeline. Job cuts are currently planned across Neom, one anonymous consultant told CNBC. But whether or not the cost proves too high, or the technology too ambitious, the work continues. The construction site of The Line is currently dotted with cranes, pile drivers, a new road and tracks for a high-speed rail system.


Time Business News
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Hatim Alshammari IFGICT: Smart City Professional
Riyadh, KSA – In a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 and its burgeoning smart city initiatives, Hatim Alshammari has officially become the first individual in the Kingdom to earn the prestigious Smart City Professional (SCP) certification from the International Federation of Global ICT (IFGICT). This achievement not only highlights Alshammari's dedication to cutting-edge urban development but also underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to building intelligent, sustainable, and high-quality urban environments. IFGICT, recognized as the world's largest ICT federation and a proud partner of the United Nations (UN), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), stands at the forefront of global ICT standards and certifications. Their Smart City Professional certification is a rigorous program designed to equip individuals with the comprehensive knowledge and skills needed to conceptualize, implement, and manage smart city projects effectively. The certification covers a wide array of critical areas, including understanding smart city frameworks, compliance standards (including IFGICT, IEEE, and ITU guidelines), methodologies for smart city auditing, evaluating initiatives through KPIs, and addressing crucial ethical considerations like privacy and data protection. For Hatim Alshammari to achieve this certification first in a nation actively pursuing mega-smart city projects like NEOM and The Line, it signifies a deep understanding of the global best practices and the intricate challenges involved in urban digital transformation. Hatim Alshammari's journey to becoming Saudi Arabia's pioneering certified Smart City Professional is rooted in a rich and diverse professional background. With over eight years of experience as a process engineer in the demanding oil and gas industry, he has cultivated a robust skill set spanning operations, project execution, and, significantly, digital transformation initiatives. This foundation in optimizing complex systems and leveraging technology for efficiency directly translates to the demands of smart city development. His Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Arizona State University provided him with a strong analytical and problem-solving framework. Beyond his engineering prowess, Alshammari has consistently sought to broaden his expertise, holding certifications from the Project Management Institute (PMI) and credentials in critical domains such as governance, risk management, compliance, and AI governance. These varied certifications demonstrate a holistic understanding of how technology, strategy, and ethical considerations intertwine in large-scale projects. 'My professional interests have evolved to include sustainability, smart city development, and the integration of emerging technologies with global development objectives,' states Hatim Alshammari. This evolution is a testament to his foresight and adaptability, recognizing the shifting global landscape towards sustainable and technologically advanced urban living. His background in managing complex industrial processes and spearheading digital transformations within a vital industry provides a unique perspective on implementing smart solutions on a city-wide scale. He understands the importance of robust infrastructure, data-driven decision-making, and seamless integration of various technological components – all vital for a truly smart city. Saudi Arabia is not just dabbling in smart city concepts; it is investing heavily in realizing a futuristic urban landscape as a cornerstone of its Vision 2030. Projects like NEOM, with its ambitious concepts such as 'The Line,' and the Red Sea Project, are globally recognized as exemplars of smart and sustainable urban planning. These initiatives aim to leverage cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and renewable energy to create environments that prioritize efficiency, connectivity, environmental sustainability, and an unparalleled quality of life. The Kingdom's strategic emphasis on smart cities necessitates a highly skilled workforce capable of navigating the complexities of these mega-projects. Hatim Alshammari's IFGICT Smart City Professional certification positions him as a key asset in this transformative national endeavor. His expertise will be instrumental in ensuring that these projects adhere to international best practices, uphold ethical standards in technology deployment, and effectively utilize data to optimize urban services. The presence of a certified Smart City Professional like Hatim Alshammari in Saudi Arabia brings several critical advantages: IFGICT's SCP certification ensures that professionals are well-versed in globally recognized standards and methodologies for smart city planning and implementation. This means Saudi Arabia's smart city projects can be developed with an assurance of quality, interoperability, and long-term sustainability. A core component of smart city development is the effective use of data. Alshammari's expertise in process engineering and digital transformation, combined with his SCP knowledge, will facilitate the creation of data-driven strategies for everything from traffic management and resource allocation to public safety and environmental monitoring. With a personal interest in sustainability, Hatim Alshammari's certification will contribute directly to Saudi Arabia's goals of building environmentally conscious cities powered by renewable energy and optimized for resource efficiency. This is crucial for achieving the Kingdom's long-term environmental objectives. His background in governance, risk management, and compliance, augmented by the SCP certification, makes him invaluable in navigating the complex regulatory and ethical landscapes of smart city development, particularly concerning data privacy and the responsible use of AI. As the first in KSA to achieve this significant certification, Hatim Alshammari serves as an inspiration for other Saudi professionals to pursue specialized knowledge in smart city development, thereby building a local talent pool critical for the Kingdom's future. Hatim Alshammari's achievement is more than just a personal accolade; it's a significant stride for Saudi Arabia as it continues its journey towards a technologically advanced and sustainable future. With his unique blend of engineering expertise, digital transformation leadership, and newly acquired smart city certification, he is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the Kingdom's urban landscapes into intelligent, livable, and truly innovative centers. His pioneering spirit exemplifies Saudi Arabia's commitment to Vision 2030, demonstrating that the nation is not just dreaming of smart cities, but actively building them with globally recognized expertise. TIME BUSINESS NEWS


Newsweek
20-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Saudi Arabia Seeks Answers on World's Biggest Construction Site
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Saudi Arabia's flagship urban development, The Line, entered a critical phase of evaluation this week, as the kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF) engaged external consulting firms to assess the feasibility of the megaproject. The review aims to determine whether project goals remain attainable amid rising costs, shifting timelines, and a downturn in oil revenues. Newsweek contacted the Public Investment Fund and Neom by email for comment. The Context The Line was first announced as a "linear city" of the Neom development, stretching 105 miles, featuring twin 500-meter-tall skyscrapers and promising residents that all daily needs would be met within a five-minute walk. The project was originally designed for nine million inhabitants, served by a high-speed train network, and to operate on zero emissions. However, the scale and timeline of The Line have drawn skepticism, with reports last year suggesting that the project has been scaled back to house fewer than 300,000 people, though Saudi Arabia has not acknowledged reports of the change. What To Know Now, it appears that officials are accepting the project's scope may have to be reigned in, with Saudi Arabia calling in consultants to assess whether or not the current approach is feasible. The review will also include suggestions of alterations to the design, according to reports from Bloomberg. Newsweek could not verify these reports. In a statement on the review process, a spokesperson for Neom said: "As is typical with large-scale, multiyear projects, strategic reviews are common practice and occur several times over the course of a major development project or infrastructure program. Construction and rendered images of the Line, in Saudi Arabia, April 2025. Construction and rendered images of the Line, in Saudi Arabia, April 2025. NEOM "The Line remains a strategic priority and Neom is focused on maintaining operational continuity, improving efficiencies and accelerating progress to match the overall vision and objectives of the project." Despite the ambitious targets, progress on The Line has been limited. Satellite images published by Newsweek in April showed large-scale excavation and support-zone development near the site, with around 2,800 workers and staff housed in custom-built accommodations. However, independent evidence of progress on the skyscraper elements remains limited. There were also allegations of labor abuses—particularly involving foreign workers—raised in the British TV documentary Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia, which claimed that some workers at NEOM were treated as "trapped slaves" and "beggars." In response, the Saudi Arabian National Council for Occupational Safety and Health told Newsweek: "In reference to the misinformation circulating across various media platforms—particularly claims suggesting an increase in worker fatalities linked to working conditions in Saudi Arabia, accompanied by unfounded statistics lacking credible sources—the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health in Saudi Arabia unequivocally refutes these assertions. "The council affirms the work-related fatalities in Saudi Arabia is 1.12 per 100,000 workers. This figure positions Saudi Arabia among the lowest globally in terms of work-related fatalities. "The International Labour Organization [ILO] acknowledges this progress, highlighting on its official website that Saudi Arabia has made significant advancements in improving occupational safety and health and reducing workplace accidents at the national level. "Similar commendations have been offered by other reputable international organizations, including the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management and the British Safety Council. "Additionally, Saudi labor laws mandate that employers provide comprehensive health insurance that covers essential preventive, therapeutic, and health care services for all employees. Regulations also restrict work under direct sunlight during the summer months and establish working hours in accordance with international standards set forth in relevant ILO agreements. We emphasize the importance of verifying information and sourcing it from credible outlets." What People Are Saying Giles Pendleton, chief operating officer of The Line, said in a post promoting its progress on LinkedIn: "A good snap shot of progress and a range of NEOM infrastructure projects from the water pipeline to new camps completing to massive amount of work in Oxagon harbor. ... All are going well and shows things from a very different view point from the air." What Happens Next The review process being undertaken by consulting firms will inform the Saudi Public Investment Fund's final decision on project scale and priorities. It will determine whether or not the city will meet its 2030 deadline.


CNBC
18-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
A 'broader review' of Saudi Arabia's projects needs to be done, not just on The Line smart city
Tim Callen, a visiting fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute and a former IMF mission chief for Saudi Arabia, discusses the Kingdom's strategic review of The Line smart city project, and what it says about investment and innovation in the country.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Saudi Arabia to Review 'The Line' Futuristic Project
Saudi Arabia has asked consulting firms to conduct a strategic review of its plans for building Neom's development project - The Line. It comes as the kingdom seeks to recalibrate projects under its Vision 2030 plan. Abeer Abu Omar explains to Joumanna Bercetche on Horizons Middle East and Africa.