The Line at Neom faces feasibility reassessment while construction continues

The Neom megaproject in Saudi Arabia, which is often described as the world’s largest construction site, has entered a significant reassessment phase amid cost pressures, delays, and shifting deliverables.

The project’s flagship component, The Line, a linear city planned to span over 100 miles, is currently being reviewed by the kingdom’s sovereign-wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has engaged consulting firms to evaluate workforce, budget, and feasibility given recent headwinds. The reassessment follows reports of escalating cost estimates and slower-than-anticipated construction progress. 

Despite the review, some civil-engineering activity on site continues. For example, satellite imagery and reports show excavation and foundational work progressing, particularly in support-zone infrastructure around Neom’s coastal and Red Sea industrial hub. However, the pace of completing high-profile structures, such as the urban linear city and associated resort zones, remains behind earlier published milestones. 

Financially, the project is under increased scrutiny. Cost overruns, reduced oil revenue, and changing macroeconomic conditions have prompted internal reviews and possible workforce reductions, as site managers weigh whether full original ambitions remain feasible under current conditions. Geotechnical and infrastructure-scale works, such as underlying utilities, transportation corridors, and structural piling, are technically underway, but their integration into the overall master plan faces challenge as the project scope is adjusted.

From a civil-engineering and infrastructure perspective, the situation at Neom highlights the risks inherent in ultra-large-scale construction with aggressive timelines and transformative design intent. Key requirements such as ground-condition surveys, structural stability in desert and Red Sea environments, utility infrastructure, large-format excavation and logistics chains are already engaged, but without full clarity on project phasing, cost containment, and design validation, execution remains subject to significant uncertainty.

In summary, Neom’s progress is real but the original scale and delivery schedule are being tempered by economic, technical and managerial realities. The future of the megaproject now depends on how the reassessment outcomes influence final scope, cost and timeline.