Several countries are currently building or planning futuristic "Cities of the Future". These projects often focus on sustainability, advanced technology and innovative urban planning, with notable examples in Saudi Arabia, China and the United States. Here are some of the key cities under development:
1. Maldives Floating City, Maldives
The Maldives is a nation of islands that are at risk due to rising sea levels. Developer Dutch Docklands partnered with the government to build a floating city. Accessible via a short boat ride from the capital Malé, Maldives Floating City will have 5,000 homes and cater to tourists. Construction began in June 2023 and it's expected to be finished in 2028.
2. Forest City, Malaysia
Forest City in Malaysia is a smart city launched in 2016 by Chinese developer Country Garden as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). So far, only a small percentage of construction has been completed, at the cost of at least $100 billion.
3. New Administrative Capital, Egypt
Launched in 2015, this megaproject located about 30 miles away from the capital, Cairo, aims to be the headquarters for government buildings, as well as other businesses. The city has been under construction since 2016 and has an estimated cost of $59 billion.
4. Songdo, South Korea
Launched in 2003, this sustainable and smart city aims to rival Seoul as an economic hub. The total cost of the project is expected to be $50 billion. With plenty of green spaces and technology such as sensors to measure traffic flow, Songdo is now home to around 210,000 people.
5. Blue City, Oman
Al-Madina al-Zarqa, or Blue City, is Oman's new city unveiled in 2005. Expected to become the nation's third-largest city, it will be home to 200,000 and boast lots of luxury tourism facilities. Construction began in 2016 but eventually stalled for financial reasons. The project started again in 2023 and is expected to cost $37.5 billion to complete.
6. Nusantara, Indonesia
Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta, may be submerged by 2050, so the government came up with a plan to move its capital 800 miles away. Nusantara will be home to the Indonesian government. In addition to government buildings, there are also residential ones being built, as well as numerous infrastructures. The project is expected to cost $35 billion.
7. NEOM, Saudi Arabia
NEOM is a $1.5 trillion innovative project that will involve a megacity intended to be home to nine million people. The city will have plenty of skyscrapers, and no roads, as everything will be within walking distance. A high-speed rail connection is supposed to connect The Line, which is how the city will be shaped: a simple straight line.
8. Waterfall City, South Africa
Located on the outskirts of Johannesburg, the new Waterfall City has grown considerably but is not yet complete. With at least US$5.8 billion invested, completion will not be achieved until 2027.
9. Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City, Kuwait
Kuwait's new artificial city in the Persian Gulf is being built around excavated canals. The city has 125 miles of shoreline with amazing beaches. Construction started in 2002, but so far, only three out of the ten planned construction phases have been concluded.
The writer is a member of staff.
