A 170 km long mirror skyscraper will be built in the desert of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to build THE LINE, a 170 km mirror glass skyscraper. It will be located in the desert and will cost the country $1 trillion. THE LINE will become part of the desert city of Neom, which was announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in January 2021.

THE LINE will consist of two 500 m high buildings that will run parallel to each other through 170 km of desert, coastal and mountainous landscapes. Prince Mohammed wants to complete construction by 2030, but engineers say it could take 50 years.

Since the building is very long, it will be placed on piers, taking into account the curvature of the Earth, and under it there will be a high-speed rail line. The skyscraper will stretch from the Gulf of Aqaba through the mountain range and coastline to a desert "aerotropolis".

Photo in text: Neom

According to Salman, the project is conceived so that residents can reach each other in 5 minutes on foot, as well as move from one end of the building to the other within 20 minutes. The LINE will reportedly be powered by renewable energy.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the buildings will accommodate 9 million people and, in addition to the high-speed train, will include a boat dock. Nutrition for the residents will be provided by vertical farming, which is planned to be integrated into the walls of the shiny buildings. Residents will reportedly be able to subscribe to three meals a day.

Photo in text: Neom

THE LINE will also feature a stadium approximately 300m above the ground. Salman claims that the buildings will be completely carbon neutral and environmentally friendly. He also hopes that the Neom project itself will create thousands of new jobs and help the oil-rich country reduce its dependence on natural resources.

However, the project also faces some challenges. Neom may not receive foreign investment due to problems in relations with Western countries related to allegations of human rights violations. Some also wonder if the projects being developed are too ambitious.

Photo in text: Neom

Earlier, due to funding difficulties, Saudi Arabia abandoned plans to build a skyscraper 1.6 km high, which would be the tallest in the world. Currently, THE LINE and Neom are funded by the high cost of oil.

Environmental planners also fear that THE LINE will disrupt the migratory routes of migratory birds, and the building's mirrored glazing will further confuse them.

Source: https://rb.ru/