Saudi Arabia launches desperate bid to drum up cash for mega city

Two mirror-encased skyscrapers extending 106 miles across the Saudi desert known as 'The Line' are supposed to have a population of one million by 2030. But they are on track for just 300,000, according to Saudi officials. The city is expected to have one million people by 2030 but is on track to have just 300k population.

Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Neom officials visited Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong to court Chinese investors and shed more light on the project. The project is expected to be completed in 20 years, but is struggling.

Saudi mega-project NEOM has been dogged by questions about its viability. Bigwigs behind the project have wrapped up a tour courting Chinese investors. Trojena, a ski resort with 36 kilometres of slopes, must be finished before 2029, when it is set to host the Asian Winter Games.