The concept of a smart city is talked about frequently and it's mostly about connectivity in various aspects, one very relevant of which is transport. Saudi Arabia is planning to take this concept and fuse it with something straight out of Blade Runner. The country has plans to erect a city in a straight line across a length of 170 km, called The Line. The 'smart linear city' in Neom, Tabuk will be designed to have no cars, no streets or carbon emissions.
The Line will be a $500 billion project and the city's plans anticipate a population of 9 million. As of October 2022, excavation work has started along the entire length of the project. While it is extremely fascinating, the project faces criticism over its impact on the environment and the current population of the area, as well as doubts about its technological and economic viability.
The strategic MoU is aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives related to smart city development and advances technology adoption to create energy efficient, intelligent buildings, said the statement from Honeywell
Global technology company Honeywell today (October 13) signed a MoU with King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) for implementing its innovative solutions to optimize operations and help create a sustainable smart city experience at the prime business and lifestyle destination in Saudi Arabia.
Read more: SA: Honeywell seals smart city development pact with Saudi's KAFD
It is touted as a post-carbon eco-city, with ‘progressive laws and ‘human experience’ at its heart.
As climate change rapidly advances, many Middle Eastern states are aiming to make the transition from carbon-based economies to alternatives that attract people from around the world – for tourism, business, work or to live.
One such example is a development known as NEOM, to be built in Saudi Arabia.
Read more: The Line: Will Saudi Arabia’s 170-km mirrored city be the utopia it promises to be?
When Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled a $500 billion project of a world where humans, robots, and AI co-exist, many began to wonder if we are heading toward a utopian or dystopian future.
Sixty years ago, The Jetsons cartoon series envisioned a utopian smart city that was set 100 years in the future. At the time, a society obsessed with technology, gadgets, and smart homes was nothing but pure wonder and whimsy.
But today, the convergence of emerging technologies such as edge computing, IoT, and 5G is beginning to bring the concept of smart cities to life. However, as sci-fi meets reality, there is mounting concern around increasing the size of the threat landscape and the price tag that will come with progress. But despite these reservations, there is also an awareness that something needs to change.
Read more: Will Saudi's smart city turn into a claustrophobic surveillance state?
In July, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the first details of “The Line,” a smart city in the $500 billion economic zone, Neom. However, it faces numerous challenges that may cast shadows on its most ambitious goals, writes Elia Preto Martini.
Many experts were skeptical about the feasibility of Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the creation of the $500 billion economic zone, Neom, when it was first announced in 2017. This should come as little surprise given the leaked documents mentioning flying cars and even an artificial moon. Compared with similar projects in China and Europe, Neom has attempted to raise the bar. The Saudi zone is planned to be 100% powered by renewable energy sources while adopting advanced technologies—such as artificial intelligence—to improve daily life quality. In July 2022, international media focused on the project after Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the first details of “The Line,” a smart city built entirely within the Neom 26,500 square kilometers area. However, the futuristic construction sector—widely known as the “smart city” industry—faces a number of challenges, such as higher-than-expected costs and environmental concerns, that may cast shadows on its most ambitious goals.
Read more: Saudi Arabian City of the Future or Dystopian Nightmare