NeomProject FoundationDesign PilingInnovation GigaProject HiddenMarina

Building the Impossible: Inside NEOM’s Hidden Marina Foundations

*Piling is nearing completion at Module 46 (M46) of The Line at NEOM. Source: Gulf Construction Online*

On the shores of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, the world is watching one of the most ambitious construction feats in modern history take shape—NEOM’s “The Line”. At its heart lies the Hidden Marina, a 2.5-km-long, 500-meter-tall urban marvel composed of Modules 45, 46, and 47. Recently, piling work for Module 46 has neared completion, marking a major milestone in the first phase of this colossal development. Each module is supported by over 5,500 piles, some plunging 70 meters deep, using more than 3.5 million cubic meters of concrete—making this arguably the largest piling project ever attempted.

Innovation Beneath the Surface

Beyond its scale, NEOM is redefining how foundations are built. Several companies, including Keller, Bauer, Trevi Group, and Power China, are involved in delivering these deep foundations. Meanwhile, Keltbray introduced the Hiper Pile system, a proof-of-concept that merges precast hollow piles with energy storage potential, showing how sustainability can be embedded from the ground up. With enormous pressure testing up to 50MN, these piles demonstrate not only strength but innovation aligned with future energy needs.

A Marina to Rival the World

The Hidden Marina isn’t just another waterfront—it's set to become twice the size of any existing marina, with a built-up area exceeding 21 million square meters, and plans to house over 200,000 residents. As part of NEOM’s broader Vision 2030, the project aims to transform how we think about cities, infrastructure, and living in harmony with technology. While delays and scrutiny around cost and labor practices persist, the engineering achievements underfoot are undeniably groundbreaking.

Check out the following video on the latest news on the Line Giga Project, set to transform today's infrastructure.