Hidden Marina being constructed as first segment of The Line megacity

Neom has revealed that construction has begun on the first segment of The Line megacity, Hidden Marina, which it claims will "dwarf global benchmarks such as the Burj Khalifa" in scale.

Encompassing 350,000 square metres, the Hidden Marina development in Saudi Arabia will comprise three interconnected modules with 80,000 residential units anticipated to accommodate over 200,000 people.

Hidden Marina "will stretch 2.5 kilometres"

Neom's CDO Denis Hickey revealed the news at the PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh last week, the Saudi Gazette newspaper reported.

"Hidden Marina, the first segment of The Line, will stretch 2.5 kilometers in length and rise 500 meters high," Hickey stated.

"With a built-up area surpassing 21 million square meters, the scale of Hidden Marina is unprecedented, dwarfing global benchmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, which has a built-up area of just 350,000 square meters," he continued.

"We have already deployed significant resources to lay the groundwork for this ambitious urban revolution."

Construction has begun on the marina, according to Hickey.

"More than 140,000 workers are currently engaged in the project's construction, with over 5,000 dedicated to Neom itself," Hickey said.

"With a workforce representing over 100 countries, including 40 per cent local Saudi talent, the initiative is a testament to Neom's global appeal and strategic vision," he added.

"Infrastructure development has seen an investment of over $140 billion, ensuring that essential services such as energy, water, transport, data, and communications are in place to support the emerging metropolis."

The first phase of The Line is being designed by Austrian studio Delugan Meissl Associated Architects and global studio Gensler.

According to Neom, alongside housing Hidden Marina will have 9,000 hotel rooms, retail and commercial spaces, and community infrastructure such as fire stations and schools.

A stadium for the 2034 World Cup will also be built there and, as its name suggests, there will be a man-made marina.

The Line is Neom's centrepiece

The Line is set to be the centrepiece of the Neom project in northwestern Saudi Arabia, which is one of 14 giga projects being developed in the country as part of its plan to minimise its economic reliance on oil.

Neom is one of the world's largest and most controversial developments, widely criticised on environmental and human rights grounds, particularly following reports that three men among communities evicted from the site have been sentenced to death. Saudi Arabia's government has claimed the men are convicted terrorists.

At the end of last year, Neom's CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr left the project amid financial issues and migrant worker fatalities.

Hickey's announcement last week follows a recent project update made by Neom's deputy CEO Rayan Fayez at the World Economic Forum conference in Davos.

Fayez explained that the project was an "economy building exercise" and revealed that construction of the region in northwest Saudi Arabia has so far cost more than $50 billion.

In October 2024, the first Neom region was completed. The "luxury island" Sindalah was designed by Italian studio Luca Dini Design and Architecture.

Following growing human rights concerns about Neom, Dezeen recently asked if it was time for architecture studios to walk away from the project.

Incoming RIBA president Chris Williamson recently defended his studio's work on the controversial project in Saudi Arabia, saying "it is not a decision I take lightly".

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