Saudi Arabia partially opened Neom, its ambitious $500 billion mega-city in the desert. The first phase of the project, Sindalah, was years behind schedule and vastly over budget. An internal audit found evidence that executives had used overly optimistic financial projections to justify surging costs. Neom was meant to redefine urban living, with Crown Prince Salman comparing it to the Egyptian pyramids. The Line, its centrepiece, was envisioned as a futuristic city stretching 170 kilometres across the desert, housed within two parallel skyscrapers taller than the Empire State Building. The original plan to build 16 km of The Line by 2030 was already ambitious, requiring more glass and steel than exists in entire cities. Even that was later revised down to 2.4 km, with only a half-mile section, including a stadium – expected by 2034. Even the first phase, set to run until 2035, is expected to cost $370 billion. Many are concerned about the scale and complexity of the projects, as well as the regulatory environment in Saudi Arabia. The International Monetary Fund has urged greater transparency on project spending.