A few years ago, construction projects worth $10 billion were considered to be of mind-blowing value. However, the situation has changed dramatically since then, with construction budgets increasing severalfold. Nowadays, several projects are underway, each with a price tag exceeding $100 billion. Let's find out which ones are considered the most expensive today.
Trans-European transport network
This is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in European history. It aims to create an integrated transport network that will connect all EU countries, providing faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly ways of transporting people and goods. The project is expected to be completed by 2050. By then, nine key transport corridors will be established, linking different parts of Europe. A total of $600 billion will be invested in the project development.
Neom
Neom is a development project in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia, with a total estimated cost of $500 billion. It is part of the Vision 2030 national strategy aimed at diversifying the country's economy and reducing its dependence on oil. Neom will be implemented in several stages: the construction of a smart linear city, which promises to become a hub of technological innovation and sustainable development as well as the creation of tourism clusters like the floating city Oxagon and the mountain resort Trojena. The project is expected to be fully completed by 2050.
Gulf railway
This $250-billion project aims to create a unified railway network linking the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. It will involve the construction of more than 2,000 kilometers of railway tracks and the establishment of modern logistics hubs to streamline transportation in the region and reduce transport costs. The railway is expected to handle up to 29 million tons of cargo and approximately 16 million passengers per year.
International Space Station (ISS)
Located in low Earth orbit, the International Space Station is a multi-module laboratory that serves as a platform for numerous scientific experiments and research in microgravity conditions. It began operations in 1998 and continues to function today. As of the latest data, $230 billion has already been spent on its construction and maintenance. This amount could be even larger as the possibility of extending the ISS's operation until 2030 is now under consideration.
Silk City
Сonstruction of the city of Madinat al-Hareer in northeastern Kuwait was launched in 2018. The project was nicknamed Silk City in the media, as it is set to become a key strategic hub at the crossroads of trade routes between East and West. The project is expected to be completed by 2035. The city will cover an area of 250 square kilometers and will house 700,000 people. It will also feature the world’s tallest skyscraper, Burj Mubarak al-Kabir, which will stand at 1,001 meters. The cost of constructing Silk City is estimated at $132 billion.