Saudi Arabia may be famous formedieval barbarismand oil, but the kingdom is rebranding as a futuristic ecotopia.
The metropolis will purportedly have a population of 9 million people by 2045.
The project is projected to cost up to $1 trillion.
Futureresidents are promised a civilizational revolution with no cars, roads, or emissions.
The facilities will be vertically-layered across the34 square km city.
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Vertically layered communities will challenge traditional flat, horizontal cities.
The plans may sound preposterous, but construction is already underway.
This week, the Saudi government unveiled new design concepts for the city.
it’s possible for you to feast/torture your eyes on the visuals in our gallery below.
Alternatively, check out a hubristicpromo videofor the project atop this page.
The Line is part of the broader Neom development in northwest Saudi Arabia.
One tribesman from the community made videos protesting the evictions.
He was latershot dead by Saudi security forces.
Privacy campaigners have raised further alarm.
Current smart cities, he added, only use about 1% of the available data.
From what we know about Saudi Arabia, you know its unlikely to be used for good.
We have no clear sense of what will be done with it, he said.
From what we know about Saudi Arabia, you know its unlikely to be used for good.
Comments by MBS have further fueled the fears.
In 2017, hetold Bloomberg Newsthat Neoms laws wouldnt need to serve citizens.
Imagine if you are the governor of New York without having any public demands, he said.
How much would you be able to create for the companies and the private sector?
Some critics argue that his vision could only exist in science-fiction.
The latter is perhaps unfair onSnowpiercer.
At least the train could actuallyleavethe desert when the apocalpyse arrives.
The fictional comparisons will nonetheless persist until the designs become reality.
