Saudi Arabia’s ambitious vision for “The Line,” a futuristic skyscraper city intended to stretch 170 kilometres across the desert, has recently encountered what appears to be a significant setback. Initially conceived as a hallmark of Neom, the $500 billion mega-city project championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, The Line was promoted as a radical reimagining of urban living. Its striking design envisioned two parallel, mirror-clad buildings soaring taller than the Empire State Building, connected by high-speed transit systems, and capable of housing 1.5 million residents in a car-free environment. This audacious plan promised not just architectural innovation, but a socially transformative model: an artificial climate-controlled corridor where every service would be within a five-minute walk, powered entirely by renewable energy. Such a bold idea generated global fascination, positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of futuristic urban planning. Yet, despite the fanfare and technological ambition, recent reports indicate that the project’s first phase has been drastically scaled back, calling into question whether the kingdom can fully realize its vision in a region defined by harsh climate conditions, limited infrastructure, and the immense financial burden of such a venture.