Saudi Arabia’s Mirror Line Skyscraper Project, worth $1 trillion, has been unveiled. It will be taller and more impressive than the Empire State Building (381m), and it will span over 100km. The mirror glass will make it longer.
The Mirror Line will be part of Neom, a city roughly equal in size to Massachusetts. This was announced by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in January 2021. He chose to build a timeless and iconic building that would rival the Egyptian pyramids.
Mirror Line will be made up of two buildings 487m tall that will run parallel along 120 km of desert, coastline, and mountain landscapes. Engineers estimate that construction of the Mirror Line could take 50 years, although Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud would like it to be completed by 2030.
Renewable energy sources will power the city. According to the prince, the buildings will not emit any carbon dioxide and be safe for the environment. The city will be served by a high-speed train that will travel at 20 mph.
Mirror Line will provide thousands of jobs. The city, once completed, will be able accommodate 5 million people. This will partially feed on vertical agriculture. Residents will be charged a monthly subscription to receive three meals per day.
Mirror Line will also feature a sports stadium that will be located 300m above ground. Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud hopes Neom will help the country stop being so dependent upon oil.
Already, the Neom City project was criticised after it became apparent that local tribes had been forcibly expelled from their area and that a Neom resident had been allegedly shot by security personnel.
According to environmental planners, the Mirror Line will disrupt the migration patterns of migratory birds. The building’s mirror glazing may further confuse them.
