Saudi Arabia plans to construct the world’s largest buildings as part of its $500 billion development plan dubbed NEOM as the country seeks to steer away from its heavy dependence on oil, Bloomberg reported.
With 10.8 million barrels per day, Saudi Arabia accounts for 11% of global oil production and is the largest exporter of crude oil. As the world looks to a future that is powered by cleaner energy sources, Saudi Arabia is looking to diversify its revenue sources and is trying to build destinations where it can attract industry & businesses in the future.
In November last year, the country announced the world’s largest industrial site at sea. This 8 sided floating city is designed to incorporate technological advances such as the Internet of Things (IoT), AI, robotics, human-machine fusion, and most importantly, powered by clean energy. Called Oxagon, the floating industrial complex is part of Saudi Arabia’s larger NEOM plan, which aims to revolutionize work & living.
What is NEOM Project?
Brain child of Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, NEOM aims to position itself as a global business & industrial hub of the world, and make long-distance business travel a thing of the past. According to its website, the project focuses on all areas of human civilization, from construction to culture, software to sports, energy to education & more.
Part of the NEOM project is another clean energy destination called The Line, a city that spans a straight-line. The construction of the line, which is estimated to cost around $200 billion to build, is expected to be a belt of hyperconnected communities extending over a line that is 105 miles (170 km) long.
To end the traffic congestion problems, the city will be roadless and rely on an ultra high speed transit system that will be built underground. A journey across the kilometer-long city should not take longer than 20 minutes.
The world’s largest buildings
To take the concept to the next level, the project will now include twin skyscrapers stretching for miles, people with know how about the project told Bloomberg. Each skyscraper will be around 500 meter tall, but instead of competing with other buildings in height, it will surpass them in width.
The designers of the project were asked to work on a half-mile prototype for such structures, which when completed will overtake even large factories. These buildings must be able to accommodate everything from shop to residential units as well as office space, entertainment centers & much more. So it will be interesting to see how they fit together in a linear design.
Buildings must be constructed at different heights to accommodate differences in terrain across the city’s expanse, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of the NEOM project, told Bloomberg in an interview.
Considering that Saudi Arabia currently has several projects that are being delayed or stalled, buildings in the line will be constructed following demand, a member of the project’s advisory board told Bloomberg. Money is not an issue, however, as the country can afford to pour its windfall profits from oil sales into these revolutionary ideas.
We can’t wait to see what they come up with.
