Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Update 2025: The Line, Trojena & Sindalah — What’s Really Happening?
Saudi Arabia’s $500+ billion NEOM development remains one of the world’s most ambitious architectural and urban-planning visions. Positioned as the centerpiece of Vision 2030, NEOM is designed to redefine sustainable cities, tourism, clean energy and next-generation infrastructure.
But in 2025, the real story is a mix of bold progress, major scaling adjustments, timeline shifts, and strategic re-prioritization. Below is a professional, evidence-based look at what is actually happening across NEOM’s flagship zones: The Line, Trojena and Sindalah.
1. The Line: Scaling Back the World’s Most Ambitious Linear City
When first announced, The Line was envisioned as a 170-km, car-free vertical city with a capacity of nine million residents. The plan called for a 500-m-tall mirrored megastructure powered entirely by clean energy, connected by high-speed mobility and built on only 34 square kilometers of land.
2025 Reality Check: NEOM Has Significantly Scaled Down The Line
In 2025, multiple engineering and financial assessment reports have triggered a strategic recalibration:
Key Updates
- Only a small segment (1–4 km) of The Line is currently under active development.
- Population targets have shifted from 9 million to a few hundred thousand for the initial phase.
- Construction has slowed due to the project’s complex foundation and facade requirements.
- A government-led feasibility review is underway to reassess phasing, costs and long-term logistics.
What This Means
The Line isn’t cancelled — but the massive 170-km vision is no longer the near-term objective. Instead, NEOM is focusing on building a functional “prototype city segment” that can operate commercially and technologically before expansion.
This approach aligns more closely with global megaproject best practices, where phased, scalable development reduces risk and increases long-term viability.
2. Sindalah: NEOM’s First Fully Operational Destination
While other parts of NEOM face structural and financial recalibrations, Sindalah has become the flagship success story. The ultra-luxury island resort in the Red Sea officially opened to visitors in late 2024 and continues expanding its amenities in 2025.
Why Sindalah Matters
Sindalah is NEOM’s first revenue-producing destination, demonstrating that the overall mega-project is capable of delivering real, functioning assets.
Current Features
- A world-class marina capable of hosting superyachts
- High-end beach clubs, luxury villas and boutique hotels
- Coral-safe diving zones and marine conservation initiatives
- A hospitality workforce trained under international tourism standards
Future Outlook
By 2028, Sindalah is expected to accommodate over 2,400 daily visitors, positioning it as a premium Mediterranean-style island experience in the Middle East.
Sindalah’s progress proves NEOM’s tourism strategy is more immediately achievable than its massive urban-infrastructure components.
3. Trojena: Progress and Challenges in NEOM’s Mountain Megaproject
Trojena, NEOM’s mountain-resort vision, is among its most technically challenging developments. It includes a futuristic ski village, lakeside resorts, mountain residences and year-round adventure facilities.
2025 Progress
- Major earthworks and infrastructure frameworks are underway
- The central ski village and winter-sports zone are in early construction phases
- Energy and water systems are being engineered to operate in high-altitude desert terrain
Ongoing Challenges
- Climate engineering: Creating snow in a naturally arid region requires advanced, high-efficiency cooling systems
- Cost pressures: Trojena is one of NEOM’s most expensive zones per square kilometer
- Timeline adjustments: Early completion dates have been pushed outward as technical assessments continue
Despite these challenges, Trojena remains a high-priority project due to its significance for global tourism differentiation and Saudi Arabia’s ambition to host future winter sports events.
4. Why NEOM Is Being Recalibrated in 2025
As Saudi Arabia refines its economic priorities, certain NEOM components are being reshaped to balance ambition with practicality.
Core Reasons for NEOM’s Adjustments
- Financial sustainability: Some early designs exceeded realistic budgets
- Engineering feasibility: Mega-structures require longer testing and material innovations
- Phased development strategy: Delivering operable segments first improves investor confidence
- Workforce and supply chain constraints: Specialized labor demand remains extremely high
This shift does not signal failure — it represents a global-standard approach to handling multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure programs.
5. What NEOM’s Future Looks Like Beyond 2025
NEOM’s long-term vision remains intact, but the pathway forward has become more phased and data-driven.
Expected Developments
- Sindalah will expand its tourism capacity and luxury offerings
- The Line’s prototype segment may attract early residents within a few years
- Trojena will continue structural development with updated timelines
- Industrial and clean-energy zones (OXAGON, ENOWA) will receive increased focus
NEOM is transitioning from conceptual megaproject to selectively executed real-world development.
Final Thoughts: What’s Really Happening at NEOM in 2025
NEOM is neither collapsing nor fully accelerating — it is undergoing a critical transformation. The project is now focused on:
- Real, measurable results
- Practical construction phasing
- Sustainable financing
- Technically feasible scaling
- Tourism-first execution strategy
Sindalah proves that NEOM can deliver.
The Line is evolving into a phased prototype.
Trojena remains ambitious but technically complex.
As 2025 unfolds, NEOM’s future will depend on balancing visionary design with grounded execution — a shift that could ultimately make the project stronger and more realistic in the long term.
