Prince unveils Saudi Arabia's futuristic megacity; See Pics

Two mirrored skyscrapers, stretching more than 100 miles across a swathe of desert and mountain terrain, unveiled a future home for millions of people by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia in a bid to provide the most liveable city on the planet "by far".

In Pics | Saudi Arabia's futuristic megacity

Saudi Prince unveiled a futuristic Saudi megacity describing it as the planet's most liveable city

This futuristic megacity features two skyscrapers extending across a swathe of desert and mountain terrain. Credit: AFP Photo

The parallel structures of mirror-encased skyscrapers extending over 170 kilometres, known collectively as The Line, form the heart of the Red Sea megacity NEOM, a plank of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's bid to diversify the Gulf state's oil-dependent economy. Credit: AFP Photo

First announced in 2017, NEOM has consistently raised eyebrows for proposed flourishes like flying taxis and robot maids, even as architects and economists have questioned its feasibility. Credit: AFP Photo

NEOM was once touted as a regional 'Silicon Valley', a biotech and digital hub spread over 26,500 square kilometres (10,000 square miles). Credit: AFP Photo

Officials had earlier said NEOM's population would top one million, but Prince Mohammed said the number would actually hit 1.2 million by 2030 before climbing to nine million by 2045. Credit: AFP Photo

The eye-popping total is part of a hoped-for nationwide population boom that Prince Mohammed said would be necessary to make Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude exporter, an economic powerhouse. Credit: AFP Photo

The goal for 2030 is to have 50 million people -- half Saudis and half foreigners -- living in the kingdom, up from roughly 34 million. Credit: AFP Photo

The site will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy and feature

NEOM is well-positioned to harness solar and wind energy, and plans are also afoot for the city to host the world's largest green hydrogen plant, said Torbjorn Soltvedt of risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. Credit: AFP Photo