iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Line is a planned NEOM city in northwest Saudi Arabia, but the available image record does not establish that the project is “well underway.” The images described in the available sources are not identified as the title’s exclusive set, and the one dated satellite view documented publicly is from February 4, 2023. NEOM now describes The Line as a long-term vision advancing in phases; in May 2026, Semafor reported that further work had been delayed until at least after 2030 and that a major redesign was planned.
What the satellite images can—and cannot—show
A satellite image records visible conditions at a particular place and time. To support a claim about construction progress, readers need to know where and when the image was captured, how it compares with earlier imagery of the same area, and how visible features were interpreted. Those details are not established for the exclusive images named in the headline, so they cannot be independently assessed here as evidence of current progress.
A Getty Images listing does document a satellite view of The Line’s western portion, dated February 4, 2023 and credited to Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2023. That listing is a dated reference, not confirmation that it is the headline’s image set, and it cannot establish the project’s state in 2026. Getty Images’ listing
Visible site work in an image is not the same as a completed city. Without confirmed locations, acquisition dates and a comparable image series, imagery does not show how much of the originally proposed 170-kilometer development is complete. No independently supported completion percentage is established in the sources cited here.
#1 Best Overall
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- VOYAGER – 1.5 Sheet Model with a moderate difficulty level. Assembled Size: 1.38 x 1.77 x 6.70 inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
What The Line was originally planned to be
NEOM’s earlier project description presented The Line as a linear city with a proposed length of 170 kilometers, a height of 500 meters and a width of 200 meters. The stated ambition was to accommodate as many as 9 million people within a footprint of 34 square kilometers. These are developer-published design parameters, not measurements of infrastructure already built. NEOM’s earlier project description
That description also promised five-minute access to daily essentials and a 20-minute high-speed rail journey from end to end. Those figures describe NEOM’s planned service and layout, not independently verified travel times or operating services.
Rank #2
- Model Kit
- May Require Paints and Glues to Assemble
- Accurate Scale Model
- Detailed Instructions Provided
- Decals/Transfers Included
NEOM Chief Operating Officer Giles Pendleton explained the design rationale as a need for a city able to accommodate nine million people while using a small footprint and supporting livability. His statement explains the developer’s goals; it does not verify that the planned capacity or benefits have been delivered. NEOM’s earlier project description
What NEOM and independent reporting say about the project now
NEOM’s current framing
NEOM’s current project page calls The Line a core part of its long-term vision and says it is “advancing through a phased, demand-led approach.” This is the developer’s latest public framing, rather than evidence that construction is proceeding at the scale or on the schedule described in the original vision. NEOM’s current project page
Rank #3
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs
- APOLLO CSM – 3.5 Sheet Model with a challenging difficulty level. Assembled Size: 5.07 L x 2.28 W x 3.45 H inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all
Semafor’s report on delay and redesign
On May 22, 2026, Semafor reported, citing people familiar with NEOM’s plans, that further work on The Line had been delayed until at least after 2030. It also reported that the twin mirrored structures were to be significantly redesigned, while the timing of the redesign and new funding remained unclear. This is reported information, not a formal public cancellation announcement. Semafor’s May 2026 report
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is The Line actually being built?
The sources support a careful answer rather than a simple yes or no: The Line remains part of NEOM’s stated long-term vision, and its current official description refers to phased development. But the available image evidence does not establish the extent of present construction, while Semafor’s reporting points to a delay and substantial redesign. The original headline’s “well underway” claim therefore cannot be verified from the image information and reporting described here.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- HUBBLE TELESCOPE – 1 Sheet Model with a moderate difficulty level. Assembled Size: 3.00 x 2.00 x 2.50 inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
Rank #4
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE - 2.75 Sheet Model with a moderate difficulty level. Assembled Size: 4.13 L x 2.75 W x 2.75 H inches. 1:221 Scale. 62 Pieces
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors
