Saudi Arabia has broken ground on The Line mega project. Photo: Neom
Saudi Arabia has broken ground on The Line mega project. Photo: Neom
Saudi Arabia has broken ground on The Line mega project. Photo: Neom
Saudi Arabia has broken ground on The Line mega project. Photo: Neom

Gulf

Saudi Arabia

Drone reveals Saudi Arabia's The Line under construction

Footage shows a long and wide linear trench being dug for the flagship development at Neom

Mona Farag
Mona Farag

October 20, 2022

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Read here to find out more about Saudi Arabia's Neom project

Saudi Arabia has broken ground on The Line mega project at Neom, new drone footage shows.

Excavators can be seen digging a wide linear trench in the desert in the video, released by the Saudi Arabia-based OT Sky drone company.

The Line, in the kingdom's north-west Tabuk province, is a 170-kilometre-long, 500-metre-tall city designed to house nine million people. It will have a mirrored facade.

It is one of a series of projects that make up the $500 billion Neom project, a futuristic city with a mixed-use development, containing spaces for work, play and living.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the designs of The Line. It will be the first city in the world to be powered by renewable energy, including wind, solar and hydrogen power.

Residents of The Line will live in interconnected societies run by artificial intelligence designed to coexist with nature.

The futuristic development will prioritise walkability, clean energy and technology to create a new way of living.

Four other developments, Neom Bay, Aqaba Region, Neom Mountain and Neom Industrial City, are intended to surround The Line.

  • The Line is one of the 10 districts of Saudi Arabia's megaproject Neom, envisioned as the world's largest city at a site in the north-west of the kingdom. Photo: Neom
    The Line is one of the 10 districts of Saudi Arabia's megaproject Neom, envisioned as the world's largest city at a site in the north-west of the kingdom. Photo: Neom
  • Plans for The Line show a vertical city encased in mirrored walls, which extends from the Red Sea into the desert.
    Plans for The Line show a vertical city encased in mirrored walls, which extends from the Red Sea into the desert.
  • Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said The Line will "embody how urban communities will be in the future". Photo: Spa
    Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said The Line will "embody how urban communities will be in the future". Photo: Spa
  • The plan is for the city to be 170 kilometres long and 500 metres tall. Photo: Neom
    The plan is for the city to be 170 kilometres long and 500 metres tall. Photo: Neom
  • The Line envisions urban living without any cars or roads. Photo: Spa
    The Line envisions urban living without any cars or roads. Photo: Spa
  • “The Line will be the first city in the world to be powered by renewable energy including wind, solar and hydrogen,” Giles Pendleton, executive director of development at The Line in Neom, told 'The National' in August.
    “The Line will be the first city in the world to be powered by renewable energy including wind, solar and hydrogen,” Giles Pendleton, executive director of development at The Line in Neom, told 'The National' in August.
  • A rendering shows man-made waterfalls inside The Line. Photo: Spa
    A rendering shows man-made waterfalls inside The Line. Photo: Spa
  • The aim is to eventually accommodate nine million people. Photo: Spa
    The aim is to eventually accommodate nine million people. Photo: Spa
  • All amenities would be available within a five-minute walk, officials say. Photo: Spa
    All amenities would be available within a five-minute walk, officials say. Photo: Spa
  • A rendering shows boats entering The Line. Photo: Spa
    A rendering shows boats entering The Line. Photo: Spa
  • A port at The Line. Photo: Spa
    A port at The Line. Photo: Spa
  • The lush city will have green spaces and rooftop gardens. Photo: Spa
    The lush city will have green spaces and rooftop gardens. Photo: Spa
  • There will be high-speed rail, with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes. Photo: Spa
    There will be high-speed rail, with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes. Photo: Spa
  • The Line will be built in the north-western region of Saudi Arabia. Photo: Spa
    The Line will be built in the north-western region of Saudi Arabia. Photo: Spa
  • The city aims to run on 100 per cent renewable energy. Photo: Spa
    The city aims to run on 100 per cent renewable energy. Photo: Spa
  • The plan shows that 95 per cent of the land will be preserved for nature. Photo: Spa
    The plan shows that 95 per cent of the land will be preserved for nature. Photo: Spa
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Company%20Profile
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
New schools in Dubai
THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

Company Profile

Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

The essentials

What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

When: Friday until March 9

Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City

Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.

Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.

Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
 

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?

West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons

Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

FA Cup quarter-final draw

The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March

Sheffield United v Arsenal

Newcastle v Manchester City

Norwich v Derby/Manchester United

Leicester City v Chelsea

OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

MO
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6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

Winner Bella Fever, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Mike de Kock (trainer).

7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Woven, Harry Bentley, David Simcock.

7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

Winner Fore Left, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.

8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m

Winner Rusumaat, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.

8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.

9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m

Winner Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Beyond Reason, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

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Updated: October 26, 2022, 7:17 AM
Saudi ArabiaNEOM