Atkins secures Delivery Partner role for THE LINE, NEOM’s flagship urban development in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Feb 19, 2023 - Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has been appointed as a Delivery Partner organization for THE LINE at NEOM in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A civilizational revolution that will have no roads, cars or carbon emissions, THE LINE is set to provide an unprecedented urban living experience.

A linear development, THE LINE, once completed, will be 170 kilometers long and only 200 meters wide cognitive city run on 100% clean energy. It will eventually accommodate nine million residents and will be built on a land area of 34 square kilometers – a footprint unheard of compared to other cities of similar capacity. Designed around nature rather than over it, THE LINE will be surrounded by large world-class protected areas as 95% of the surrounding NEOM region will be protected for conservation.

“With a vision for engineering a sustainable society, SNC-Lavalin is committed to helping governments and the private sector meet their Net Zero targets by providing our global expertise and world-class sustainability solutions,” said Ian L. Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer, SNC-Lavalin. “THE LINE is a central component of NEOM, which itself is one of the largest projects under Saudi Vision 2030. The linear, cognitive city will play a significant role in helping NEOM accelerate the Kingdom’s economic diversification agenda by redefining urban living experience, boosting tourism, and creating job opportunities for the people of Saudi Arabia.”

Atkins has been awarded a five-year contract under a framework agreement for consultancy services on THE LINE. In collaboration with NEOM and other Delivery Partner organizations, 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.

“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,” said Philip Hoare, President, Engineering Services, Canada, UK & Europe, Middle East and India, SNC-Lavalin. “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.

“With over 50 years’ presence in the Middle East, Atkins has played a key role in supporting the region’s transformation by delivering some of its most iconic and complex projects,” said Campbell Gray, Chief Executive Officer, Middle East & Africa, Atkins. “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. As a Delivery Partner organization, we will work closely with NEOM to drive value and efficiency by adopting innovative technologies and world-class sustainability standards.”

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. Through its consulting, advisory and environmental services, the Company is also helping clients to unlock project value and transform outcomes by adopting advanced real-time data analytics, machine learning and AI, to enhance prioritization of tasks, support earlier decision making and enhance collaboration.

With a steadfast commitment to supporting Saudi’s economic growth, Atkins has expanded its local presence in the Kingdom with regional offices in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar, supporting clients in buildings and places, transportation, energy and water sectors. Some of the Company’s key projects in Saudi Arabia include Diriyah Gate, Six Flags Qiddiya theme park, Riyadh Metro, and King Abdulaziz International Airport.