Saudi Arabia: NEOM unveils Hidden Marina as first phase of THE LINE

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: NEOM has announced the unveiling of Hidden Marina, the first phase of its ambitious megacity project, THE LINE.

According to a report by the Saudi Gazette, Hidden Marina will extend 2.5 kilometres in length and rise 500 metres in height, consisting of three interconnected modules designed to house more than 200,000 residents.

The development will span a built-up area of over 21 million square metres, a scale that surpasses global benchmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, which covers only 350,000 square metres.

Denis Hickey, Chief Development Officer of NEOM, shared the announcement at the PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh, describing the project as "a bold step in redefining urban living." He added, "It introduces a fully integrated, vertical city, constructed in modular 800-metre sections."

Hidden Marina: Groundbreaking development

The Hidden Marina, the first segment of THE LINE, will feature over 80,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, commercial and retail spaces, as well as essential infrastructure like fire stations, schools, police, and security services.

“We are laying the groundwork for this ambitious urban revolution,” Hickey continued. “Currently, more than 140,000 workers are engaged in the project’s construction, including over 5,000 dedicated to NEOM. The initiative showcases NEOM's global appeal, with talent from over 100 countries, including 40 per cent local Saudi talent.”

Infrastructure investment

To support the emerging metropolis, infrastructure development has attracted an investment of over $140 billion. This investment will ensure that essential services such as energy, water, transport, data, and communications are in place.

NEOM’s investment framework is supported by two key vehicles: the NEOM Investment Fund, which focuses on strategic sectoral investments, and the NEOM Investment Office, which facilitates real estate partnerships.

Hickey also highlighted the NEOM Green Hydrogen Company, which is constructing the world’s largest green hydrogen manufacturing plant in collaboration with ACWA Power at the Oxagon industrial area.

“Further strategic partnerships have been established, including a joint venture with DSV to build a cutting-edge logistics network from scratch and a collaboration with Samsung on automated rebar production, which will revolutionize construction safety and efficiency,” Hickey added.

A Vision for sustainable infrastructure

Additionally, NEOM recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Data Vault for a $5 billion AI-powered green energy data storage facility at Oxagon, further cementing its leadership in sustainable infrastructure.

“NEOM is not just a city, but an urban revolution designed to push boundaries, redefine economies, and establish a new standard for future urban development,” Hickey concluded. “With construction progressing on track, NEOM’s vision of a fully integrated, futuristic metropolis is rapidly becoming a reality.”