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Saudi Arabia’s proposed “100-mile skyscraper,” The Line, has reportedly been delayed until at least after 2030 and is due for a significant redesign. That is not the same as a formal cancellation: the report describes plans relayed by people familiar with the project, while NEOM’s public page still presents The Line as part of its long-term vision.
What is Saudi Arabia’s “100-mile skyscraper”?
The Line is a proposed linear city within NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s development project in the country’s northwest. Its original concept called for a long urban development framed by twin mirrored skyscrapers; it is a plan, not a completed 100-mile building.
The “100-mile” shorthand refers to the original planned length. Semafor’s May 22, 2026 report put it at 170 kilometers, or about 106 miles, and described the twin-skyscraper concept. The rounded headline figure is therefore approximate, not an exact measurement.
What reportedly happened to the project?
Semafor reported on May 22, 2026, citing people familiar with the matter, that further work on The Line had been delayed until at least after 2030 and that its design would be significantly revised. The report described the change as following a strategic review and as part of efforts to reduce NEOM’s costs.
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Semafor said the redesign timetable and allocation of new funding had not been established. NEOM did not immediately respond to the outlet’s request for comment. The account is significant reporting, but it is not a public cancellation notice or a confirmed construction schedule.
What NEOM says publicly
NEOM’s project page continues to describe The Line as a core part of its long-term vision and says it is “advancing through a phased, demand-led approach.” NEOM also identifies sustainability, livability, and innovation as design principles. Those statements describe the organization’s current public framing; they do not confirm when construction will proceed or how the revised design will look.
How the original vision differs from the reported status
| Aspect | Original announcement | Latest reviewed public information |
|---|---|---|
| Project | The Line was announced as a proposed linear city within NEOM. Saudi Press Agency reported the design announcement on July 25, 2022. | NEOM’s project page still describes it as part of its long-term vision and says development is phased and demand-led. |
| Design and scale | The launch-era vision presented a human-centered city. Semafor’s 2026 report describes the original twin mirrored skyscrapers and a planned length of 170 kilometers (about 106 miles). | Semafor reported that the design is due for significant revision; a completed redesign has not been established in the reviewed reporting. |
| Timing | The 2022 announcement expressed an ambition to deliver The Line but did not establish a verified completion date in the cited announcement. | Semafor reported further work delayed until at least after 2030. The future schedule remains unclear. |
| Population figures | Not stated in the cited 2022 announcement. | Semafor reported a reduced target of up to 100,000 NEOM residents by 2030, down from earlier NEOM-wide ambitions of 1.5 million and 300,000. These are targets for NEOM as a whole, not verified residents of The Line. |
What the original announcement promised—and what that does not prove
In its July 25, 2022 announcement, the Saudi Press Agency said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, identified as NEOM Board chairman, had announced The Line’s designs. The launch presentation situated the proposal within NEOM and Saudi Vision 2030, described a human-centered city, and stated an ambition to use 100% renewable energy. These were launch-era aims, not evidence that the proposed city was built or that those goals have been achieved.
In that announcement, Mohammed bin Salman said the commitment to delivering The Line “remains resolute.” The statement records intent at launch; it should not be read as a current progress update in light of later reporting about a delay and redesign.
Is The Line cancelled, or will construction restart?
The available information does not establish either outcome. Semafor reported a delay and planned redesign, while NEOM’s page retains the project as a long-term vision. Neither source provides a confirmed restart date, a completed redesign, or a definitive cancellation. The most accurate description is that The Line’s original concept and timeline have reportedly changed, with its eventual form and schedule unresolved.
Semafor also quoted Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan, speaking the previous year, as saying that projects could be adjusted, accelerated, deferred, or cancelled. That general remark is not itself confirmation that The Line has been cancelled.
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Sources
- Saudi Press Agency, July 25, 2022: announcement of The Line’s designs.
- NEOM: The Line project page.
- Semafor, May 22, 2026: report on the delay, redesign, and NEOM-wide population target.
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