An enormous £6.8tn mega-city that is being built across the desert is facing a major issue. Neom in Saudi Arabia has already cost billions of pounds but has faced major delays in its construction.

Now the government in Saudi Arabia has launched a review that could scale back the ambitious plans. The futuristic city was meant to include The Line, a vast series of skyscrapers each at half a kilometre tall that would span 125 miles of desert. The project was given a budget of around £365bn and a 2030 completion date.

The scheme was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who wanted to diversify Saudi Arabia’s oil-dependent economy, reports The Sunday Times. He is said to have grown frustrated with projects that have been plagued by delays.

Several others have already been postponed or even scrapped. Neom is the latest to be reevaluated and could see its focus switched to artificial intelligence data centres instead of the mega-city it was meant to be.

A source close to the review told The Sunday Times that The Line faces an uncertain future. It could be scrapped entirely or even scaled back.

Although the prince is understood to think the project could ease the pressure on cities such as Riyadh, which is being outgrown by Saudi Arabia’s 35 million strong population.

Under the original proposals Neom would house a 6,500 square kilometer nature reserve as well as Trojena, a mountain destination that would be home to Saudi Arabia’s first outdoor ski-slopes. Trojena is set to boast sub-zero winter temperatures and a “moderate year-round climate”. 

Trojena was scheduled to host the  2029 Asian Winter Games but bosses have already confirmed it won’t be ready in time. 

The Line itself, which would be made up of mirrored buildings, was set to house nine million people in what bosses claimed would “redefine the concept of urban development”. Amenities will be “five minutes walk” away from residents with a high-speed railway taking 20 minutes to travel The Line’s span.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 said: “The Line is a revolutionary city that puts humans first, providing an unprecedented urban living experience while preserving its surrounding nature.”

The prince is believed to have set ambitious goals for the projects in the hope that some can be achieved. But a slump in oil prices has meant that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment has had to reassess its spending.

So far the only part of Neom that has opened is the yachting resort Sindalah. The sea horse-shaped project has however been widely considered a failure, with reports last year claiming Prince Mohammed didn’t even attend its official opening.

Neom is now set to be reevaluated as Saudi Arabia and the UAE shift towards AI, attempting to establish themselves as global leaders in technology. The PIF recently released HUMAIN, its company designed to build full-stack AI and data centres.

As well as a shifting economy, the kingdom has seen a social change in recent years, with the religious police disbanded and women now allowed to drive. Prince Mohammed has won plaudits among many young people but has also faced criticism, with dissidents sentenced to decades in prison for social media posts.

The Express.co.uk has approached NEOM for a comment.