Ryan Knutson

Some of the wildest ideas came from MBS himself.

Some of the wildest ideas came from MBS himself.

In the end, the plans for Neom roughly coalesced around five key developments, each with an appropriately dramatic name. There was Magna, Neom's string of luxury beachfront hotels, Syndala, an island with a cluster of resorts, Oxagon, a port on the Red Sea, Trojena, a mountain resort, and then there was Neom's centerpiece, the actual city part of this futuristic city-state. It was called The Line.

In the end, the plans for Neom roughly coalesced around five key developments, each with an appropriately dramatic name. There was Magna, Neom's string of luxury beachfront hotels, Syndala, an island with a cluster of resorts, Oxagon, a port on the Red Sea, Trojena, a mountain resort, and then there was Neom's centerpiece, the actual city part of this futuristic city-state. It was called The Line.

In the end, the plans for Neom roughly coalesced around five key developments, each with an appropriately dramatic name. There was Magna, Neom's string of luxury beachfront hotels, Syndala, an island with a cluster of resorts, Oxagon, a port on the Red Sea, Trojena, a mountain resort, and then there was Neom's centerpiece, the actual city part of this futuristic city-state. It was called The Line.

My colleague Elliot Brown spent years covering real estate. The line is unlike any building he's ever seen, or even ever dreamed about, for that matter.

My colleague Elliot Brown spent years covering real estate. The line is unlike any building he's ever seen, or even ever dreamed about, for that matter.

My colleague Elliot Brown spent years covering real estate. The line is unlike any building he's ever seen, or even ever dreamed about, for that matter.

The line is a skyscraper, or rather two skyscrapers running parallel to each other. Each tower would stretch 1,600 feet into the air, taller than the Empire State Building, and also run for 106 miles, roughly the length of Connecticut. Yes, that is two skyscrapers, side by side, running for 106 miles. In pictures, it's undeniably striking. Breathtaking, almost.

The line is a skyscraper, or rather two skyscrapers running parallel to each other. Each tower would stretch 1,600 feet into the air, taller than the Empire State Building, and also run for 106 miles, roughly the length of Connecticut. Yes, that is two skyscrapers, side by side, running for 106 miles. In pictures, it's undeniably striking. Breathtaking, almost.

The line is a skyscraper, or rather two skyscrapers running parallel to each other. Each tower would stretch 1,600 feet into the air, taller than the Empire State Building, and also run for 106 miles, roughly the length of Connecticut. Yes, that is two skyscrapers, side by side, running for 106 miles. In pictures, it's undeniably striking. Breathtaking, almost.

The outside of the building would be covered with mirrored glass so that it reflects the desert landscape, blurring the line where the structure ends and nature begins. The entire complex would house around 9 million people. But people would live inside of it.

The outside of the building would be covered with mirrored glass so that it reflects the desert landscape, blurring the line where the structure ends and nature begins. The entire complex would house around 9 million people. But people would live inside of it.

The outside of the building would be covered with mirrored glass so that it reflects the desert landscape, blurring the line where the structure ends and nature begins. The entire complex would house around 9 million people. But people would live inside of it.

The idea of building a city in a line, that came from MBS's architects. But turning it into a skyscraper? MBS has said that was his idea.

The idea of building a city in a line, that came from MBS's architects. But turning it into a skyscraper? MBS has said that was his idea.

The idea of building a city in a line, that came from MBS's architects. But turning it into a skyscraper? MBS has said that was his idea.

That's because MBS is both the developer and the bank. MBS is the chair of Neom's board, in addition to being the chair of every subproject within Neom. He's also the chair of Neom's main funder, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, home to about a trillion dollars of the country's oil wealth. If MBS wanted the line, he was in a good position to get it.

That's because MBS is both the developer and the bank. MBS is the chair of Neom's board, in addition to being the chair of every subproject within Neom. He's also the chair of Neom's main funder, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, home to about a trillion dollars of the country's oil wealth. If MBS wanted the line, he was in a good position to get it.

That's because MBS is both the developer and the bank. MBS is the chair of Neom's board, in addition to being the chair of every subproject within Neom. He's also the chair of Neom's main funder, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, home to about a trillion dollars of the country's oil wealth. If MBS wanted the line, he was in a good position to get it.