NEOM has appointed Atkins as a delivery partner for THE LINE development in Saudi Arabia.
Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, will join THE LINE – the 170km-long and 200m wide sustainable mega-city being built in Saudi Arabia as a delivery partner organisation.
When completed THE LINE will have no roads, cars or carbon emissions, and run on 100% clean energy.
NEOM THE LINE delivery partner
It will eventually accommodate nine million residents and will be built on a land area of 34sq km – a footprint unheard of compared to other cities of similar capacity.
Designed around nature rather than over it, THE LINE will be surrounded by 95% conservation-protected areas.
Atkins has been awarded a five-year contract for consultancy services on THE LINE.
In collaboration with NEOM and other delivery partners, Atkins will provide project and construction management consultancy services for the design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the project, together with the management of the critical interfaces that the linear city shares with adjacent NEOM projects and logistics.
The project has adopted a highly collaborative delivery model in response to its scale, complexity, supply chain and requirements for innovation.
Philip Hoare, President of Atkins, said: “THE LINE is a truly ground-breaking, world-first project and we are proud to have the opportunity to bring our global engineering, digital and net zero expertise to help create a lasting legacy for the Kingdom and its people.
“As a delivery partner organization, we will work closely with NEOM and our partners to seamlessly connect people, data and technology to drive innovation, value, efficiency and certainty on the project.
“Our combined intent is to radically transform the way major infrastructure projects are delivered and THE LINE, with its vision and complexity, provides a great opportunity to demonstrate what our industry can achieve.”
THE LINE offers a new approach to urban design. The idea of layering city functions vertically while giving people the possibility of moving seamlessly in three dimensions (up, down or across) to access them is a concept referred to as “Zero Gravity Urbanism.”
The development’s infrastructure will be embedded with sustainable smart technology containing essential utilities and transportation services, generating car-free communities and public realms.
Campbell Gray, CEO Middle East and Africa for Atkins, said: “Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s most dynamic growth markets and we are committed to supporting the country’s ambitions through our global engineering expertise, our in-depth local knowledge, and our investment in the Kingdom’s future talent.”
Globally, SNC-Lavalin has developed the “Engineering Net Zero” (ENZ) program, which focuses on leading the engineering industry to achieve Net Zero Carbon as rapidly as possible by helping clients manage climate risks and build climate resilience.
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