Computer visualization of “The Line” (archived image): Planners designed the project's flagship to be the Wing Tower – a skyscraper that lies on its side.Image: Neom
Saudi Arabia is building skyscrapers in the desert on an area the size of Belgium. The project claimed a large number of lives.
Marty Hartman/t-online
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According to a recent report, 21,000 workers from Nepal, Bangladesh and India have died during the construction of future Saudi Vision 2030 projects. The figure was mentioned in an ITV documentary and matches data already collected. The Bangladesh government counted 1,502 workers dying in Saudi Arabia in 2022 alone, The Guardian reported in the spring.
Saudi Vision 2030, announced by Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016, includes numerous large-scale projects. For example, “The Line” in Guancheng is expected to be 170 kilometers long but only 200 meters wide. Nine million people are expected to live in this desert-spanning metropolis, all housed in a massive 500-meter-tall building. According to the plan, the supersonic subway will take only 20 minutes from one end of the Art City to the other.
A medieval approach to a “better future”?
“The Line” is part of the massive “Neom” settlement project, which is expected to total an area of 26,500 square kilometres, almost the size of Belgium. Saudi Arabia spoke highly of the project online. Everything should become ultra-modern, achieve a CO2-free circular economy and create a “better future”.
But according to human rights groups, the kingdom is opting for medieval methods to achieve this goal. The BBC reported in May that Saudi authorities had allowed the killing of Bedouins who would be forcibly relocated for the project.
“The Line” construction site in satellite image (May 2023) and photo (July 2023).Image: GC Satellites/ Google (via Soar), Giles Pendleton (via LinkedIn)
“Please help me”
Workers said they were not paid and were treated like slaves. For example, in the ITV documentary, a worker said that 16-hour shifts were normal and continued for 14 consecutive days.
“We worked non-stop,” another worker said in the secretly filmed report. Lack of sleep contributes to many workplace accidents. Another worker spoke to friends and family. “Please help me,” he begged.
The man was found dead a short time later. He was allegedly told that he could only leave Saudi Arabia if he paid the equivalent of five months' salary. Many German companies are also profiting from the large-scale “Neom” project. Officials in Saudi Arabia have promised to investigate the allegations.
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