Among the world's megaprojects, the Gulf is building big

Among the world's most ambitious megaprojects, the Gulf region is constructing on a grand scale. According to a ranking by Statista, four out of nine projects estimated to cost at least $100 billion are located in the Gulf. These include Saudi Arabia's Neom and King Abdullah Economic City, Kuwait's Silk City, and a railway project aimed at connecting the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The most well-known of these megaprojects is Neom, announced in 2017 with an initial budget of $500 billion. The development, situated in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, encompasses several initiatives, including The Line, a city initially envisioned as stretching 170km with mirrored walls encompassing it. The Gulf railway project, meanwhile, is intended to facilitate the movement of people and goods across the region.

The GCC Railways Authority has estimated the line to span 2,117km, with the network scheduled for full operation by December 2030.

However, the costliest entry on the Statista ranking is not within the Gulf. Europe's Trans-European Transport Network, which unites railways, roads, ports, and other infrastructure across EU states, is listed with an estimated cost of $600 billion. The project's various aspects are set to be completed between 2030 and 2050. Comparing these megaprojects requires careful consideration, as building a transport network across several countries differs from constructing a new city.

The figures in the ranking represent estimated costs rather than the money already spent, and these can fluctuate as plans evolve.

While the chart highlights the scale of these ambitious endeavors, the success of delivering them at the promised scale, cost, and pace remains to be seen.