Saudi megacity: The Line 
If we look a few decades back, we can clearly see how that which we considered straight out of a sci-fi novel can be made possible with time. But time on its own will not be able to change the way we see things. If humans were not as innovative by using their minds to be creative, then we would not have been able to see the light of such projects and technologies as today.
As a result of such inventions, we have become constantly competitive to see which country will be able to amaze the world next (which is not bad).
Due to the world’s determination to become the first to do “this and that,” we have been able to demonstrate how far we can go. It is not just competitiveness that enables us to reach our full potential; it is also everyone’s responsibility to strive to improve the world. Setting our targets and reaching them will allow us to flourish strategically.
Saudi Arabia has begun to adopt the mindset of “making the world better” by setting different projects within Vision 2030, a solid framework to ensure we reach our goals, however hard they may seem. In summary, the vision is a rough sketch of what we want to achieve. Why do we want to achieve this? To turn Saudi Arabia into a country that presents a quality of life unlike any other.
In NEOM, one of the essential qualities that is seen as crucial is to build a city where society can thrive. The cities, including The Line, will be one of a kind, providing an unprecedented experience like never before. One of the things pointed out when discussing The Line is its unique horizontal design, which genuinely matches its name.
The futuristic mindset we are heading with is a crucial asset we must include while planning for the future, with a focused approach toward achieving the future we strive to create.
With all the newly developed technologies we see making their debut, it looks like we will see a newly formed world.
Michio Kaku, one of the most outstanding professors I have looked up to for several years, recently visited NEOM. He is well known for his expertise and predictions of what the future might look like, publishing several books, including “Physics of the Future,” which discusses what the world will look like in 2100. He introduced some ideas we may see as fictional, but considering the new technologies we see being introduced in the market today, we realize it might be possible after all. It is exciting to see it all come to life.
One of the technologies we see in development and which will most likely be included is flying taxis as a way for more accessible transportation. If you dive deeper into this, you will see that we have already started working on autonomous technologies for a long time now.
And since we are making sustainable moves, The Line itself will provide access to different activities and entertainment within a simple five-minute walk.
Due to the technical advancement, it is not expected that we will see all of the new tech develop in NEOM’s future — as everything is still in significant development — but from what we have seen of the progress of NEOM’s projects, the future is looking brighter for the Kingdom.
The mega-project will be a multifaceted one that will change how we perceive our lifestyle, work environment and so much more, introducing new diverse pathways in many sectors.
As this project gains more attention from the public for its successful implementation of all we could ever imagine for a better world, other countries are expected to follow the lead and demonstrate how seriously they take initiatives and actions to improve our world together.
NEOM is a chance for us to up-level our idea of the approach we should take and continue with that. The futuristic mindset we are heading with is a crucial asset we must include while planning for the future, with a focused approach toward achieving the future we strive to create.
• Ritaj Hussain Al-Hazmi is a young columnist and author, and Guinness world record holder. She believes in showcasing the new generation’s potential.
