The Line NEOM Between Rumors and Architectural Realities Is the Project at a Standstill?

Global Media Tensions Erupt

On November 5, 2025, a wave of global media tension erupted following a report by Financial Times, claiming that the ambitious The Line project was faltering and falling short of its original promises. Competing agencies and opposing platforms suggested that the architectural ambition collided with the laws of physics and resource limitations. According to these reports, after spending no less than $50 billion, the project experienced a sharp contraction, reducing the first phase from 20 units to only 3.

The media campaign also highlighted sensitive points, such as the estimated $4.5 trillion cost, early engineering warnings regarding the impossibility of preventing sway for a vertical structure of this height, and environmental concerns about threats to bird migration routes. This narrative dominated global headlines, emphasizing the need for a careful review of these claims.

Investigative Analysis: The Line Between Rumors and Architectural Facts

Over the past 24 hours, an unprecedented wave of speculation and news has spread across global media and social platforms, suggesting a potential halt or imminent setback for The Line project. While opposing voices and competitor media leveraged this tension to launch intense campaigns on X platform, a calm investigative review has become essential to distinguish speculation from facts.

Context of Rumors and Claimed Reasons for Setbacks

The circulating reports about the project’s failure focus on several main points:

• Record-Breaking Costs: References to the project’s cost exceeding $500 billion, linked to global economic disruptions and rising raw material prices.
• Engineering and Physical Challenges: Doubts about the feasibility of a 170 kilometer vertical concept, deemed impractical.
• External Media Campaigns: Use of these stories within an organized effort by competitors or opponents to undermine the Kingdom’s overarching vision.

The Line Analysis: The Secret Plan and the Reality of Construction (1 km)

Reviewing the project’s trajectory since its launch reveals undeniable facts:

First: The 170-Kilometer Claim

From the start, the internal strategic plan among consultants and architects stipulated that the actual first construction phase would not exceed 1 kilometer, while the 170 kilometer figure represented a long-term vision spanning decades. Media outlets exploited this gap between the announced size and the actual phase as a perceived weakness, even though such methodology is common in massive urban projects.

Second: Timing and Geological Signals

Close monitoring showed that indirect signals preceded the reports of slowdown. These signals appeared particularly in September and were related to geological or heritage discoveries along the project route.

On September 10, 2025, during a speech before members of the Shura Council, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that the Kingdom considers the economic feasibility of projects. He differentiated between suitable and unsuitable projects that may distort the economy.

Project planners likely used these findings tactically to reschedule or adjust the project’s path. The focus was on preserving heritage and addressing site complexities, rather than halting the project entirely.

Third: Economic Pressure
It is undeniable that rising global costs impose enormous pressure on a project of this scale. However, this challenge is not unique to NEOM; it is a global issue, making delays expected rather than evidence of design failure.

The Downside: NEOM’s Media Arm Shortcomings

A strategic weakness in crisis management emerges:

• Culture of Secrecy: NEOM heavily relied on confidentiality and secret agreements with architects and consultants. While aimed at protecting intellectual property, this approach prevented strong voices from defending the project. Global architects and consultants are best positioned to advocate for the architectural vision and address doubts about feasibility.
• Lack of Transparency: The absence of detailed clarifications left a void quickly filled with rumors and misinformation from opposing parties. Experts should have been allowed to present advanced studies on engineering mechanics and construction efficiency to counter non-specialist criticism.

Conclusion: A Balanced Review

Although no one can confirm that the project has stopped, the investigation reveals that economic pressures, geological challenges, and strategic shortcomings are driving the current crisis.

The Line NEOM faces an existential challenge. It must either allow the brilliance of behind the scenes engineering to surface and defend the project, or continue in a crisis of opacity. This opacity prevents supportive voices from advocating for this unprecedented architectural ambition.

Important Note on NEOM Rumors

The real issue behind NEOM rumors is not the ideas themselves. It is the secrecy of agreements with architects and consultants. If authorities had allowed the architects and consultants to present their studies publicly, they could have responded to the rumors much more clearly.

People have always recognized that The Line NEOM is 1 kilometer long in its initial phase. Yet, media coverage treated it as if it were a setback. All that remains is to wait and see what lies behind the curtain.

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Sources:

https://twitter.com/MakkahProject17/status/1987189299721515283?s=20
https://twitter.com/SALMMA1997/status/1897603174003097995?s=20
https://twitter.com/sultanmeghji/status/1944776071213203692?s=20