Denis Hickey, the CDO of Neom, revealed the latest news about the Hidden Marina project at the PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh last week, according to Saudi Gazette.
"Hidden Marina, the first section of The Line, will extend 2.5 kilometers in length and reach a height of 500 meters," said Hickey. "With a built-up area of over 21 million square meters, the scale of Hidden Marina is unprecedented, surpassing global benchmarks like the Burj Khalifa, which has a built-up area of only 350,000 square meters," he continued.
Construction of the marina has already started, according to Hickey, with more than 140,000 workers currently employed in the project. "With a workforce representing over 100 countries, including 40% local Saudi talent, this initiative is a testament to Neom's global reach and strategic vision," he added.
The infrastructure development has been based on an investment of over $140 billion, ensuring the availability of essential services such as energy, water, transportation, data, and communications to support the emerging metropolis.
The first phase of The Line is being designed by the Austrian studio Delugan Meissl Associated Architects and the global studio Gensler.
According to Neom, in addition to the residential sections of Hidden Marina, there will be 9,000 hotel rooms, commercial spaces, and community infrastructure such as fire stations and schools. Additionally, a stadium for the 2034 World Cup and an artificial marina will be constructed.
The Line is set to be the centerpiece of the Neom project in northwestern Saudi Arabia, which is one of the 14 giga-projects being developed in the country as part of its plan to reduce economic dependence on oil.
Hickey's announcement last week follows a recent update on the project by Neom’s Deputy CEO Rayan Fayez at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Fayez explained that the project is an "exercise in building the economy" and revealed that construction in the northwestern Saudi region has so far cost over $50 billion. However, Neom's project, which is one of the largest and most controversial developments in the world, has faced widespread criticism for environmental reasons and human rights concerns.
source: Dezeen
