These incredible photos show the development of the impressive Saudi Arabian megacity Neom which is set to cost £800 billion. The project aims to build a solar-powered glass city slap bang in the middle of the desert. Also known as The Line, it aims to create a 75-mile long futuristic city that prioritises pedestrians and green spaces while minimising environmental impact.
Once completed, it is set to feature towering skyscrapers, an artificial mountain and ski resort , an octagonal floating port, a dedicated swimming lane for commuters as well as a sophisticated AI and robots network designed to serve its uber-rich residents. Other features include Xaynor, a members-only beach club, which aims to attract ‘a unique community of the most fascinating people in the world’, a luxury golf resort and a series of glass apartments hanging from a giant outcropping in the sand which aim to ‘offer points of connection between humans and nature’. The project is one of a number of futuristic megacities designed to cater to the 1% in recent years, which have been met with mixed results and reception.
In 2020, the Malaysian government announced their plans to create a futuristic island off the coast of Penang Island, which was said to feature self-driving public transport, canals lined with palm trees and sleek white buildings. But the project was met with a fierce backlash from local fishermen, who claimed the project would destory their livelihood and decimate the area’s fish p.