China: key partner for NEOM's ambitious Saudi project
- NEOM: “The Land of Future”
- China's investment plays a key role
- Why is China chosen by Saudi Arabia as a potential investor?
- The Line, Oxagon, Trojena and Sindalah
- Is The Line really sustainable and viable?
- How can spaces that foster human interaction and community vitality be created in such a linear and homogenous environment?
The ambitions of Saudi Arabia's leaders seem endless. NEOM is probably the world's largest, most futuristic and advanced architectural challenge. Officials toured China with the aim of attracting investors, presenting the project's plans.
Continued efforts to decouple the economy from oil have led the Saudi royal family to undertake the construction of pharaonic projects such as The Line, Sindalah, Oxagon and Trojena. Self-described as 'the land of the future', NEOM sees itself as having the power and ambition to redefine livability and business.
NEOM: “The Land of Future”
Following the creation of Saudi Vision 2030 on 25 April 2016, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced an ambitious programme to diversify the economy and improve the quality of life for government institutions and citizens - NEOM.
NEOM is a global hub open for business. Based on the development of a sustainable and forward-looking economy and setting new standards for talent and business, it gives a new meaning to urbanism where people and environmental care are the top priority.
The region's networks and connectivity will become a model for the future and establish a new global standard of living. Protection, conservation and regeneration are at the heart of the NEOM model.
It will form the world's largest talent-driven and diverse community in 14 sectors such as development and manufacturing, water treatment, advances in digital technology, bringing entertainment and culture to another plane, providing quality education, increasing investment and development in research and innovation, improving and adapting designs and buildings to Net Zero objectives, etc.
China's investment plays a key role
Over the past three decades, China's remarkable economic growth and high population have made it the world's largest CO2 emitter in absolute terms, accounting for 28% of the global total in 2018.
The problem of overpopulation has always been a headache for the Asian giant's leaders. Renewable energies are highly sustainable in the long term, but their current cost of implementation is extremely high. This, in a country of more than 1.42 billion people, is a major challenge.
Economic progress and growth are the basis for the development of the Asian giant's wealth. With a 20-fold increase in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) so far this century, China is already one of the most powerful economic powers in the world. Such is the strength of its economy that even in 2020, the year in which the COVID-19 pandemic began, it grew at a rate of 2.1%.
It plays an active role in promoting projects around the world. It currently buys public debt from more than 60 countries, most of them in Africa, and is a major player in international trade.
One of the main issues for China's short-term future is compliance with measures to curb global warming, as it consumes 40% of the world's coal. This is why the Saudi project is attracting the attention of Chinese investors.
Why is China chosen by Saudi Arabia as a potential investor?
The unviability of the project is one of the problems that China wants to solve. Capable of the best and the worst, the People's Republic would not be averse to being part of the project. Being the most polluting country in the world is the label that Xi Jinping's government wants to get rid of. To this end, over the last decade it has pushed forward its Net Zero by 2060 programme with a view to its completion by 2050.
To achieve neutrality, it will need to invest more than 20 trillion euros in areas such as clean energy generation, advanced energy storage and carbon-free buildings. If the world is to meet the Paris climate goals, it is essential that China has a strategy to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century.
Despite the presentations in Hong Kong, led by Tariq al-Qaddoumi, executive director of Urban Planning at NEOM, and Leonard Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Innovative Technology Development Association, the reaction from potential investors was mixed. While the exhibition helped make NEOM "less mysterious," according to Chan, the reactions of the guests were "fairly neutral".
This neutrality can be attributed to concerns about the feasibility and perception of the project. Some investors, such as Plato Yip, head of the environmental organisation Friends of the Earth in Hong Kong, expressed feelings of being "imprisoned" within the project, while others, such as Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan, pointed to the importance of sustainable foreign investment for the country's development. The feeling among the Chinese upon learning of the project was one of neutrality and concern about its long-term viability and perception.
The Line, Oxagon, Trojena and Sindalah
Over the years, NEOM has been implementing new projects to its portfolio. Since the implementation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund as part of the financing and the annexation of Saudi Aramco to the project in 2018, growth has been exponential. The first project completed by the company was NEOM Bay Airport. Although its international expansion took a big leap with the opening of The Line project.
The Line is the jewel in the crown and the one on which the Saudi kingdom is relying on for the future of its economy. The project unveiled in 2022 consisted of two connected main skyscrapers over 488 metres high that would run more than 170 kilometres in a straight line. A self-sustainable city with no CO2 emissions, with high-speed train connections linking the two ends of the city in 20 minutes.
The support following the announcement of The Line led NEOM and Saudi Vision 2030's top leaders to announce the new floating city model: Oxagon. This project, located at a strategic crossing point for cargo ships coming from South East Asia to Europe, will fight to be one of the most important ports in the world and the first zero energy cost port.
Ambition did not stop at Oxagon. The sporting success of the Middle East region following the holding of the World Cup in Qatar and the announcement of the World Cup in Saudi Arabia for 2034, motivated the development of Trojena, the largest and most advanced sports complex in the world. It is scheduled to open in 2026 and its first major event will be the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
Sindalah es donde la naturaleza se encuentra con el diseño responsable, la tecnología de vanguardia y la arquitectura inspiradora. Ofreciendo experiencias inolvidables tanto sobre como bajo el mar, excelentes conexiones con el cercano Mediterráneo y excelentes campos de golf. Sindalah ofrece diversión durante todo el año gracias a su clima perfecto. El complejo incluirá un club de playa, un club náutico, un spa y centro de bienestar, además de 51 tiendas de lujo, un hotel de lujo y un gran puerto deportivo.
Is The Line really sustainable and viable?
It has taken two years to begin to see the first cracks in the pharaonic Saudi royal project at the hands of NEOM.
The Line project in Saudi Arabia, promoted by NEOM, proposes a radical vision of urbanism. In a world where technological innovation and advanced urban planning are increasingly prominent, this project aims to redefine the boundaries of what a city can be. However, as we contemplate the potential of this straight-line city, it is crucial to reflect on how it might affect the human experience and the quality of life of those who inhabit it.
When the project was first unveiled, The Line was expected to be home to 9 million inhabitants, but expectations have been drastically reduced and now only just over 250,000 people are expected to live there. This significant reduction raises doubts about the long-term viability and attractiveness of the project. In addition, it has been announced that, due to economic problems, only approximately 2.8 km of the originally planned 170 km will be built, calling into question the full implementation of the project.
Living in a city laid out in a straight line raises questions about the very essence of what it means to live in a community. Traditional cities are characterised by diversity of space, social interaction and connection to nature. Winding alleys, urban parks and bustling markets are fundamental elements of the urban experience. In contrast, a straight-line city may lack the vitality and distinctive character that define traditional cities.
How can spaces that foster human interaction and community vitality be created in such a linear and homogenous environment?
Linear design presents unique challenges for urban design and spatial planning. The variety and diversity of spaces can result in monotonous and impersonal experiences for residents. Even in these designed cities, there are few opportunities for parks, green spaces and natural environments, which can lead to a loss of connection to nature.
Traditional cities are often places where people from different backgrounds and lifestyles live and interact, fostering diversity and tolerance. However, in a homogenous environment such as The Line, there is a risk of creating isolated groups with limited interaction and cultural exchange.
Another aspect to consider is how linear cities can affect the emotional and psychological well-being of their inhabitants. Architecture and urban planning have a huge impact on people's mood and mental health. The lack of visual variety and the feeling of being confined to a linear space can create feelings of claustrophobia and isolation.
In conclusion, as we explore the opportunities and challenges of Saudi Arabia's The Line project, it is worth considering the wider implications of living in a linear city. This radical approach to urban planning promises innovation and efficiency, but raises important questions about the meaning of urban life and the quality of life for residents.
Careful analysis and planning is required to ensure that The Line is not only functional and efficient, but also a humane and liveable place for those who call it home.