--- title: "Saudi Arabia's Insane Bridge Hotel: Inside the Treyam Resort at Neom" description: "It rises out from the desert like sapphire on sapphire, a sparkling paradise that bridges a cool blue lagoon at the edge of sand and sea. The brainchild of Saudi Arabian ambition, and the latest addition to the incredibly ambitious project known as Neom, the creation is a luxury resort, a mainstay for the ultra-rich and for those that come to admire the formidable desert sands.\n\nBut right now, that luxury resort isn't a resort at all. It's an idea, a collection of aspirations sketched onto paper, and just at the early phases of a process that will attempt to bridge it into reality. This is the story of this strange, futuristic hotel over the lagoon: how it'll work, what it's meant to be, and who it's meant to welcome to this corner of the world. And we'll explore the broader questions behind Saudi Arabia's newest concept: why it was commissioned, what grand ambition it's meant to serve, and whether this latest dream of the Saudi princes in Riyadh, could actually make the jump to reality.\n\n## The Concept; The Builders; The Project\n\nThe concept was unveiled to the world in March of 2024, in the latest in a long series of glossy press releases by way of the grand megaproject known as Neom. Accompanied by glimmering concept art, and a few key details designed to fuel the imagination of onlookers, the minds behind Neom outlined the bare bones of their vision. Situated on the Gulf of Aqaba, a long stretch of water that divides Egypt and Saudi Arabia at the northernmost stretch of the Red Sea, Neom's leaders intended to build a hotel. But as Neom's concept art made abundantly clear, this hotel wasn't just any B-list Marriott offshoot. The hotel itself would be built as a bridge, stretching across the mouth of a wide lagoon and granting incredible views and atmosphere to those who book a stay. It was dubbed, \"Treyam.\"\n\nThe designs were provided courtesy of a US architectural studio, Mark Foster Gage Architects, founded by a designer and theoretician bearing the same name. Based in New York city, the firm is known for its intense focus on supreme design aesthetics, while the man at its head was once lauded by the world's oldest surviving magazine, *The Spectator*, as, \"the most decoratively radical architect at work today.\" The firm is responsible for Times Square's inaugural Valentines Day Heart, built in 2009, and a number of retail stores serving the fashion designer Nicola Formichetti, all over the world. Gage's most famous design, the so-called Khaleesi Tower, drew global attention for its ornate designs, intended to soar for nearly 1,500 feet over New York City's Billionaires' Row. The firm's design work has been featured in some of the world's most esteemed museums, and described at length in the vast majority of major architectural publications, as well as major global print and TV news outlets. Mark Foster Gage himself, however, has also earned another moniker, given to him by *Surface Magazine*: \"The Most Prolific Architect of Buildings that Don't Exist.\"\n\nBut Gage's nearly impossible-to-realize designs are just one-half of the equation behind Treyam—and on the other side, is a gargantuan initiative that's committed to bringing borderline-impossible designs into reality. That, of course, would be Neom.\n\nNeom is a gargantuan infrastructure megaproject—more of a *gigaproject*, really—proposed by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia a few years ago. It's got a budget that Saudi Arabia reports around one and a half trillion dollars US, and in a practical sense, it's a grand push to re-orient Saudi Arabia's economy away from its dependence on oil, into tourism, innovation, finance, logistics, and all sorts of other industries that will still exist, even after the last drop of oil has been sucked from the Earth. The centerpiece of the Neom project is known as The Line, a glass-walled, self-contained, high-rising futuristic city that Saudi Arabia has long claimed will stretch for 105 miles, and host 1.5 million people by the year 2030. Among the high ambitions Saudi Arabia has revealed for The Line at one point or another, are a grand artificial intelligence meant to monitor and improve the city each day, an architecture that would place all of its residents' daily needs within a five-minute walk of their door, and some considerably more out-of-pocket elements like flying taxis, cage-fighting robot entertainment, and a giant artificial moon. Alongside The Line, Saudi Arabia has promised all manner of spectacular-looking playgrounds for the rich and famous, cutting-edge industrial hubs, revolutionary renewable energy and desalination features, and more.\n\nUnfortunately for Saudi Arabia, the project has also fallen under harsh criticism for its general lack of feasibility, the many human rights violations of the nation building it, and recent reports that its 105-mile-long megacity, due for 2030, might measure actually…one and a half miles, by that time. The situation's not great, Saudi Arabia *really* doesn't like people saying the situation's not great, and the future of the entire project is in doubt…but when it comes to the vision for Treyam, Neom's ambition has stayed the same. After all, according to the people at the head of the grand project, this is a place where impossible things will be made possible…so the high ambition and spectacular design of an architect like Mr. Gage, should fit right in.\n\n## Treyam\n\nWhen it comes to the design of Treyam itself, there are…a lot of things that stand out, actually, so let's run through them one-by-one. The main feature of the Treyam hotel is its grand bridge feature, expected to measure nearly half a kilometer, 450 meters or almost 1,500 feet, from end to end. The bridge will sit 118 feet, thirty-six meters, above the surface of the water below, with Neom's promotional materials promising a clear view of vibrant coral reefs under the surface. Along the top of the entire bridge, as shown in Treyam's concept art, will stretch a long, wide infinity pool. Along its edges, Treyam promises lush greenery, areas to relax, and long walkways for those not inclined to swim. Inside, Treyam is said to consist of 250 hotel rooms, with a special touch added to each: a partially transparent, glass-bottomed floor in each room that will allow guests to gaze down to the lagoon below. As Mark Foster Gage Architects explained it, Treyam is meant for, \"offering a new perspective on how architecture engages with nature.\" Along with the floors, ceilings in each of the rooms will be glass, and great glass windows will allow occupants to gaze out upon the landscape. At each of its terminus points onshore, towering pinnacles will crest into the skies, as a built-out structure nearer to the ground will likely offer all the amenities that the world's luxury travelers would expect. Treyam's concept art even depicts cascading waterfalls descending the chopped-up, multilayered rooftops of the outlying portions of the building on land, sparkling against the harsh desert sun.\n\nOf course, like any real-estate agent worth their license will attest, location is everything—and in Treyam's case, the location is pretty damn good. Situated atop the narrow point of entry for the lagoon it bridges, Treyam's guests with an inland view will be able to gaze down upon the lagoon, a long stretch of pristine red-brown desert, and a range of rocky highlands that contrast sharply with the clear blue of the sky. Guests with a seaward view will stare out to the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, and gaze upon the Egyptian coastline on the other side of its fifteen-mile, twenty-four-kilometer expanse. And all the guests, no matter where they're facing, will have direct access to what's above and below. As Gage described it: \"You're literally hovering over an entire underwater ecosystem and looking out over the vastness and beauty of the natural world. The rooms also have partially glass ceiling, which means you also have a direct connection to some of the most incredible views of the stars that I've seen in my entire life.\" Among the outdoor amenities promised for Treyam are scuba-diving and windsurfing, each taking full advantage of the natural landscape that this particular location provides. Situated about ten kilometers, six miles from The Line, Treyam will be easily accessible from what Saudi Arabia promises will be a booming metropolis, but it'll sit far enough away that its guests can live unbothered by the rush and the noise of city life.\n\nTreyam will operate courtesy of the Equinox Hotels company, known for its so-called \"urban oasis\" in the Hudson Yards neighborhood New York City. According to Equinox, Treyam has even more to offer than what was announced at its big reveal. Quoting from *Travel Weekly*, Equinox has promised a range of high-class amenities: \"world-class culinary concepts, a clubhouse, spa, longevity and technology treatments supporting health and performance, and a signature Equinox Fitness Club\". The ultimate goal, just like everything else in Neom, is to build something, \"unlike anything else on Earth\". Meanwhile, Neom's hotel division has promised a growing number of luxury resorts, from a so-called \"secret garden\" resort and spa, also designed by Gage, to an upside-down ultra-luxury skyscraper with some truly unhinged concept art, and a handful of other destinations with weird and wonderful names: Aquellum, Xaynor, Gidori, Siranna, Epicon, and many more.\n\n## Is it Feasible; Will it Exist?\n\nNow, it's at about this time that those familiar with prior reporting on Neom, are starting to get a little itch you can't quite scratch. \"Why,\" as the burning question goes, \"are we taking this crazy idea seriously at all? Could it ever work? Isn't it just a pipe dream? Isn't the entire thing about Neom, that the whole *gigaproject* is a pipe dream?\"\n\nTo answer that question, we've actually got to answer two questions: is Treyam even feasible, and if it is, then will it ever actually exist? To answer the first question, we've got to strip away all the glitzy concept art, and just look at the physics of the thing: Can this gigantic floating bridge building, hanging a full half-kilometer out in the open air, actually stay up without collapsing? Now, we do have to emphasize; we are neither particularly expert physicists nor trained architects, and to sit down and actually do the calculations on this behemoth, is a bit beyond us.\n\nBut even just the basics of the Treyam design, provide some reason to be skeptical. Any load suspended between two anchor points, can only be so heavy; just imagine, say, a long, thin plank of wood, perched on a concrete brick on one end, and a concrete brick on the other. Place something small in the middle of the plank—let's say, you set your morning coffee down onto it—and that plank will probably hold. Stand on it, however, and unless you're lilliputian in size, that plank is going to snap. Make the plank of wood longer, move those concrete bricks out further and further from one another, but don't make the plank itself any thicker or stronger, and it'll only sag down easier from weight placed on the center. And in the case of Treyam, there is a whole lot of weight that will need to be supported between two points, half a kilometer apart. The bridge element of the hotel will need to hold the building materials, all the concrete and glass and steel. It'll have to hold the tremendous weight of the water in its infinity pool. It'll have to hold all the furnishings, the interior elements, and anything else its designers choose to cram in there, not to mention the people.\n\nAnd on that 450-meter-long expanse, Treyam's current concept art shows nothing to help distribute the weight of the structure more evenly, rather than pushing it toward a sagging center that bears all the weight of the hotel bridge. There's no truss or suspension element, like a long bridge might have in reality, and the size of the building that must be suspended between its two anchor points is *so* far beyond anything built in any structure on Earth. Of course, Treyam's designers are under no obligation to show all the bells and whistles in an initial piece of concept art, and we don't know whether they've got any plans to use some very light, very strong material to gird the structure against collapse. But on the technical feasibility angle, at least for now, we rate Treyam…implausible, at best.\n\nBut if we assume that it *is* possible to build in its current form, we come to the second question: Will it ever actually be built? Immediately, the answer will tend toward 'no'—and for good reason. After all, if international reports on The Line are to be believed, then Neom's flagship effort is catastrophically behind on its design and construction goals, to the point that just one percent of its projected length will be finished by 2030…under even the best of circumstances. So, if The Line is flagging so far behind, then there should be no hope of Treyam ever being realized...right?\n\nProbably, that's the likeliest option at this stage. But it's also worth paying at least some attention to the alternative—and to understand that alternative, we've got to come back to the reason that Neom is being built in the first place. The entire goal of this grand project is to shift the Saudi economy, by force if necessary, away from the short-term-viable fossil fuel industry and toward economic sectors that can sustain the nation indefinitely. The entire reason that a project like Neom is possible, is because Saudi Arabia has quite frankly stupid amounts of money to throw away—and while it's true that those sums don't appear to be enough to cover The Line as initially imagined, there's another side to that coin. Discontinue The Line, freeze its development in place, or adjust to a much slower development timeline to realize a toned-down version of the project…and all of a sudden, there's a whole lot of money back in circulation.\n\nAs global sources have advocated skepticism around Neom's real limitations, Saudi Arabia has responded with a combination of denials, and distractions…and those distractions, have consisted of a whole lot of concepts for a whole lot of smaller, but still-spectacular infrastructure projects. In fact, Treyam is one of them. There are a couple of reasons why Neom's planners might have decided to respond that way, and certainly, one possibility is that they'd simply like to take the heat off a failing *gigaproject* by capturing people's imagination for as long as they can. But another possibility, is that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may have decided to adjust its long-term thinking, leaving behind near-impossible goals like building The Line, in order to focus on smaller-scale projects like Treyam that *might* still be achievable if they throw inordinate amounts of oil money at the ideas.\n\nWhether or not Treyam, specifically, holds up in such an environment, is another question. The precarious structure of Treyam, as it's currently drawn up, doesn't exactly inspire confidence. At this early stage, designed by an architect who's known for designing things that never get built, it's easy enough to abandon. Perhaps some heavily revised floating-bridge hotel does get built, in a way that's a bit more structurally sound. Perhaps the vision of a spectacular bridge hotel fades away, but Equinox builds a pretty kickass traditional hotel beside that same lagoon. Or, perhaps the whole thing gets slashed, or quietly abandoned in hopes that the world won't ever notice. And, in a way, that's the beauty of the entire Neom project, as it currently exists. We can be pretty sure that the real thing, whatever it becomes, probably won't look like the concept art…but where it goes, whether it collapses, or how it evolves and perseveres, is a question that may take a generation to finally answer.\n\n## Key Takeaways\n\n- Treyam is a proposed luxury resort in Saudi Arabia's Neom project, designed as a bridge over a lagoon.\n- The architect, Mark Foster Gage, is known for ambitious designs that often remain unrealized.\n- Neom aims to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy from oil to tourism and innovation, with Treyam as a key attraction.\n- The feasibility of Treyam's design is questionable due to its massive size and structural challenges.\n- The future of Treyam and Neom is uncertain, with potential adjustments or cancellations due to financial and practical constraints.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n### What is the Treyam hotel?\n\nTreyam is a luxury resort designed as a bridge stretching across a lagoon in Saudi Arabia's Neom project. It features 250 hotel rooms with glass-bottomed floors and ceilings, an infinity pool, and lush greenery.\n\n### Who designed the Treyam hotel?\n\nThe Treyam hotel was designed by Mark Foster Gage Architects, a US architectural studio known for its focus on supreme design aesthetics.\n\n### Where is the Treyam hotel located?\n\nThe Treyam hotel is situated on the Gulf of Aqaba, at the northernmost stretch of the Red Sea, bridging a lagoon in Saudi Arabia's Neom project.\n\n### What are the key features of the Treyam hotel?\n\nKey features of the Treyam hotel include a 450-meter-long bridge with an infinity pool, 250 rooms with glass-bottomed floors, lush greenery, and amenities like scuba-diving and windsurfing.\n\n### What is the Neom project?\n\nNeom is a gigaproject proposed by Saudi Arabia with a budget of around $1.5 trillion USD. It aims to reorient the Saudi economy towards tourism, innovation, finance, and other industries.\n\n### What is the current status of the Treyam hotel?\n\nAs of now, the Treyam hotel is in the early phases of development and is not yet built. It is still in the conceptual and planning stages.\n\n### What are the criticisms of the Neom project?\n\nThe Neom project has faced criticism for its lack of feasibility, human rights violations, and reports that its flagship city, The Line, may not meet its initial goals.\n\n### What amenities will the Treyam hotel offer?\n\nThe Treyam hotel is expected to offer world-class culinary concepts, a clubhouse, spa, longevity and technology treatments, and a signature Equinox Fitness Club.\n\n### What is the significance of the Treyam hotel's location?\n\nThe Treyam hotel's location offers guests views of a pristine desert, rocky highlands, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Egyptian coastline, providing a unique and luxurious experience.\n\n### What is the feasibility of building the Treyam hotel?\n\nThe feasibility of building the Treyam hotel is questionable due to the structural challenges of supporting a half-kilometer-long bridge with significant weight. The current concept art does not show any structural support elements.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [Original MegaProjects video: Saudi Arabia's Insane Bridge Hotel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOHEBkZnLjA)\n- [https://www.dezeen.com/2024/03/21/bridge-hotel-neom-marc-foster-gage/](https://www.dezeen.com/2024/03/21/bridge-hotel-neom-marc-foster-gage/)\n- [https://newatlas.com/architecture/treyam-saudi-bridge-resort-neom/](https://newatlas.com/architecture/treyam-saudi-bridge-resort-neom/)\n- [https://travelweekly.com.au/article/like-nothing-on-earth-saudi-arabias-new-treyam-resort-set-in-a-star-wars-style-landscape/](https://travelweekly.com.au/article/like-nothing-on-earth-saudi-arabias-new-treyam-resort-set-in-a-star-wars-style-landscape/)\n- [https://travelweekly.com.au/article/like-nothing-on-earth-saudi-arabias-new-treyam-resort-set-in-a-star-wars-style-landscape/](https://travelweekly.com.au/article/like-nothing-on-earth-saudi-arabias-new-treyam-resort-set-in-a-star-wars-style-landscape/)\n- [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13222503/Saudi-Arabia-announces-latest-audacious-NEOM-destination-Elevated-haven-Treyam-resort-feature-worlds-longest-sky-pool-roof-250-room-resort-built-desert-lagoon.html](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13222503/Saudi-Arabia-announces-latest-audacious-NEOM-destination-Elevated-haven-Treyam-resort-feature-worlds-longest-sky-pool-roof-250-room-resort-built-desert-lagoon.html)\n- [https://www.businessinsider.com/equinox-planning-resort-for-saudi-arabias-futuristic-desert-city-neom-2024-7](https://www.businessinsider.com/equinox-planning-resort-for-saudi-arabias-futuristic-desert-city-neom-2024-7)\n- [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-05/saudis-scale-back-ambition-for-1-5-trillion-desert-project-neom](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-05/saudis-scale-back-ambition-for-1-5-trillion-desert-project-neom)\n- [https://www.dezeen.com/2023/02/14/neom-guide-line-saudi-arabia/](https://www.dezeen.com/2023/02/14/neom-guide-line-saudi-arabia/)\n- [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2017/10/26/saudi-arabia-launches-a-futuristic-economic-zone?ppccampaignID=&ppcadID=&ppcgclID=&utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=17210591673&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyL24BhCtARIsALo0fSAk8KWg1YHkJpq18a0W9MxRoCs9fkpgkPm9eqJsmi46XuppkV92kAYaAgpJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds](https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2017/10/26/saudi-arabia-launches-a-futuristic-economic-zone?ppccampaignID=&ppcadID=&ppcgclID=&utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=17210591673&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyL24BhCtARIsALo0fSAk8KWg1YHkJpq18a0W9MxRoCs9fkpgkPm9eqJsmi46XuppkV92kAYaAgpJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)\n- [https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/29/saudi-arabia-says-all-neom-megaprojects-will-go-ahead-as-planned.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/29/saudi-arabia-says-all-neom-megaprojects-will-go-ahead-as-planned.html)\n- [https://globaldesignnews.com/with-an-artificial-moon-and-flying-taxis-saudi-arabia-unveils-its-utopian-neom-an-ambitious-500bn-giga-project-that-looks-to-the-future-of-sustainable-cities-and-tourism-an/](https://globaldesignnews.com/with-an-artificial-moon-and-flying-taxis-saudi-arabia-unveils-its-utopian-neom-an-ambitious-500bn-giga-project-that-looks-to-the-future-of-sustainable-cities-and-tourism-an/)\n- [https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/mark-foster-gage-conceptual-architecture/](https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/mark-foster-gage-conceptual-architecture/)\n- [http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/new-york-citys-newest-proposed-skyscraper-by-mark-foster-gage](http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/new-york-citys-newest-proposed-skyscraper-by-mark-foster-gage)\n- [https://www.mfga.com/khaleesi](https://www.mfga.com/khaleesi)\n- [https://www.architecture.yale.edu/faculty/321-mark-foster-gage](https://www.architecture.yale.edu/faculty/321-mark-foster-gage)\n\n## Related Coverage" url: https://megaprojects.pub/article/saudi-arabia-insane-bridge-hotel-treyam-neom.md canonical: https://megaprojects.pub/article/saudi-arabia-insane-bridge-hotel-treyam-neom datePublished: 2026-06-25 dateModified: 2026-06-25 author: - name: Simon Whistler url: https://megaprojects.pub/author/simon-whistler publisher: MegaProjects image: "https://media.megaprojects.pub/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=338,fit=cover,quality=80,format=auto/articles/HOHEBkZnLjA/hero.jpg" type: NewsArticle contentHash: 955e82d7f32df049bbc67d499f5827fb47cede85981137059d40d1d8d47e134c tokens: 5702 summaryUrl: https://megaprojects.pub/article/saudi-arabia-insane-bridge-hotel-treyam-neom.md.summary.md --- It rises out from the desert like sapphire on sapphire, a sparkling paradise that bridges a cool blue lagoon at the edge of sand and sea. The brainchild of Saudi Arabian ambition, and the latest addition to the incredibly ambitious project known as Neom, the creation is a luxury resort, a mainstay for the ultra-rich and for those that come to admire the formidable desert sands. But right now, that luxury resort isn't a resort at all. It's an idea, a collection of aspirations sketched onto paper, and just at the early phases of a process that will attempt to bridge it into reality. This is the story of this strange, futuristic hotel over the lagoon: how it'll work, what it's meant to be, and who it's meant to welcome to this corner of the world. And we'll explore the broader questions behind Saudi Arabia's newest concept: why it was commissioned, what grand ambition it's meant to serve, and whether this latest dream of the Saudi princes in Riyadh, could actually make the jump to reality. ## The Concept; The Builders; The Project The concept was unveiled to the world in March of 2024, in the latest in a long series of glossy press releases by way of the grand megaproject known as Neom. Accompanied by glimmering concept art, and a few key details designed to fuel the imagination of onlookers, the minds behind Neom outlined the bare bones of their vision. Situated on the Gulf of Aqaba, a long stretch of water that divides Egypt and Saudi Arabia at the northernmost stretch of the Red Sea, Neom's leaders intended to build a hotel. But as Neom's concept art made abundantly clear, this hotel wasn't just any B-list Marriott offshoot. The hotel itself would be built as a bridge, stretching across the mouth of a wide lagoon and granting incredible views and atmosphere to those who book a stay. It was dubbed, "Treyam." The designs were provided courtesy of a US architectural studio, Mark Foster Gage Architects, founded by a designer and theoretician bearing the same name. Based in New York city, the firm is known for its intense focus on supreme design aesthetics, while the man at its head was once lauded by the world's oldest surviving magazine, *The Spectator*, as, "the most decoratively radical architect at work today." The firm is responsible for Times Square's inaugural Valentines Day Heart, built in 2009, and a number of retail stores serving the fashion designer Nicola Formichetti, all over the world. Gage's most famous design, the so-called Khaleesi Tower, drew global attention for its ornate designs, intended to soar for nearly 1,500 feet over New York City's Billionaires' Row. The firm's design work has been featured in some of the world's most esteemed museums, and described at length in the vast majority of major architectural publications, as well as major global print and TV news outlets. Mark Foster Gage himself, however, has also earned another moniker, given to him by *Surface Magazine*: "The Most Prolific Architect of Buildings that Don't Exist." But Gage's nearly impossible-to-realize designs are just one-half of the equation behind Treyam—and on the other side, is a gargantuan initiative that's committed to bringing borderline-impossible designs into reality. That, of course, would be Neom. Neom is a gargantuan infrastructure megaproject—more of a *gigaproject*, really—proposed by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia a few years ago. It's got a budget that Saudi Arabia reports around one and a half trillion dollars US, and in a practical sense, it's a grand push to re-orient Saudi Arabia's economy away from its dependence on oil, into tourism, innovation, finance, logistics, and all sorts of other industries that will still exist, even after the last drop of oil has been sucked from the Earth. The centerpiece of the Neom project is known as The Line, a glass-walled, self-contained, high-rising futuristic city that Saudi Arabia has long claimed will stretch for 105 miles, and host 1.5 million people by the year 2030. Among the high ambitions Saudi Arabia has revealed for The Line at one point or another, are a grand artificial intelligence meant to monitor and improve the city each day, an architecture that would place all of its residents' daily needs within a five-minute walk of their door, and some considerably more out-of-pocket elements like flying taxis, cage-fighting robot entertainment, and a giant artificial moon. Alongside The Line, Saudi Arabia has promised all manner of spectacular-looking playgrounds for the rich and famous, cutting-edge industrial hubs, revolutionary renewable energy and desalination features, and more. Unfortunately for Saudi Arabia, the project has also fallen under harsh criticism for its general lack of feasibility, the many human rights violations of the nation building it, and recent reports that its 105-mile-long megacity, due for 2030, might measure actually…one and a half miles, by that time. The situation's not great, Saudi Arabia *really* doesn't like people saying the situation's not great, and the future of the entire project is in doubt…but when it comes to the vision for Treyam, Neom's ambition has stayed the same. After all, according to the people at the head of the grand project, this is a place where impossible things will be made possible…so the high ambition and spectacular design of an architect like Mr. Gage, should fit right in. ## Treyam When it comes to the design of Treyam itself, there are…a lot of things that stand out, actually, so let's run through them one-by-one. The main feature of the Treyam hotel is its grand bridge feature, expected to measure nearly half a kilometer, 450 meters or almost 1,500 feet, from end to end. The bridge will sit 118 feet, thirty-six meters, above the surface of the water below, with Neom's promotional materials promising a clear view of vibrant coral reefs under the surface. Along the top of the entire bridge, as shown in Treyam's concept art, will stretch a long, wide infinity pool. Along its edges, Treyam promises lush greenery, areas to relax, and long walkways for those not inclined to swim. Inside, Treyam is said to consist of 250 hotel rooms, with a special touch added to each: a partially transparent, glass-bottomed floor in each room that will allow guests to gaze down to the lagoon below. As Mark Foster Gage Architects explained it, Treyam is meant for, "offering a new perspective on how architecture engages with nature." Along with the floors, ceilings in each of the rooms will be glass, and great glass windows will allow occupants to gaze out upon the landscape. At each of its terminus points onshore, towering pinnacles will crest into the skies, as a built-out structure nearer to the ground will likely offer all the amenities that the world's luxury travelers would expect. Treyam's concept art even depicts cascading waterfalls descending the chopped-up, multilayered rooftops of the outlying portions of the building on land, sparkling against the harsh desert sun. Of course, like any real-estate agent worth their license will attest, location is everything—and in Treyam's case, the location is pretty damn good. Situated atop the narrow point of entry for the lagoon it bridges, Treyam's guests with an inland view will be able to gaze down upon the lagoon, a long stretch of pristine red-brown desert, and a range of rocky highlands that contrast sharply with the clear blue of the sky. Guests with a seaward view will stare out to the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, and gaze upon the Egyptian coastline on the other side of its fifteen-mile, twenty-four-kilometer expanse. And all the guests, no matter where they're facing, will have direct access to what's above and below. As Gage described it: "You're literally hovering over an entire underwater ecosystem and looking out over the vastness and beauty of the natural world. The rooms also have partially glass ceiling, which means you also have a direct connection to some of the most incredible views of the stars that I've seen in my entire life." Among the outdoor amenities promised for Treyam are scuba-diving and windsurfing, each taking full advantage of the natural landscape that this particular location provides. Situated about ten kilometers, six miles from The Line, Treyam will be easily accessible from what Saudi Arabia promises will be a booming metropolis, but it'll sit far enough away that its guests can live unbothered by the rush and the noise of city life. Treyam will operate courtesy of the Equinox Hotels company, known for its so-called "urban oasis" in the Hudson Yards neighborhood New York City. According to Equinox, Treyam has even more to offer than what was announced at its big reveal. Quoting from *Travel Weekly*, Equinox has promised a range of high-class amenities: "world-class culinary concepts, a clubhouse, spa, longevity and technology treatments supporting health and performance, and a signature Equinox Fitness Club". The ultimate goal, just like everything else in Neom, is to build something, "unlike anything else on Earth". Meanwhile, Neom's hotel division has promised a growing number of luxury resorts, from a so-called "secret garden" resort and spa, also designed by Gage, to an upside-down ultra-luxury skyscraper with some truly unhinged concept art, and a handful of other destinations with weird and wonderful names: Aquellum, Xaynor, Gidori, Siranna, Epicon, and many more. ## Is it Feasible; Will it Exist? Now, it's at about this time that those familiar with prior reporting on Neom, are starting to get a little itch you can't quite scratch. "Why," as the burning question goes, "are we taking this crazy idea seriously at all? Could it ever work? Isn't it just a pipe dream? Isn't the entire thing about Neom, that the whole *gigaproject* is a pipe dream?" To answer that question, we've actually got to answer two questions: is Treyam even feasible, and if it is, then will it ever actually exist? To answer the first question, we've got to strip away all the glitzy concept art, and just look at the physics of the thing: Can this gigantic floating bridge building, hanging a full half-kilometer out in the open air, actually stay up without collapsing? Now, we do have to emphasize; we are neither particularly expert physicists nor trained architects, and to sit down and actually do the calculations on this behemoth, is a bit beyond us. But even just the basics of the Treyam design, provide some reason to be skeptical. Any load suspended between two anchor points, can only be so heavy; just imagine, say, a long, thin plank of wood, perched on a concrete brick on one end, and a concrete brick on the other. Place something small in the middle of the plank—let's say, you set your morning coffee down onto it—and that plank will probably hold. Stand on it, however, and unless you're lilliputian in size, that plank is going to snap. Make the plank of wood longer, move those concrete bricks out further and further from one another, but don't make the plank itself any thicker or stronger, and it'll only sag down easier from weight placed on the center. And in the case of Treyam, there is a whole lot of weight that will need to be supported between two points, half a kilometer apart. The bridge element of the hotel will need to hold the building materials, all the concrete and glass and steel. It'll have to hold the tremendous weight of the water in its infinity pool. It'll have to hold all the furnishings, the interior elements, and anything else its designers choose to cram in there, not to mention the people. And on that 450-meter-long expanse, Treyam's current concept art shows nothing to help distribute the weight of the structure more evenly, rather than pushing it toward a sagging center that bears all the weight of the hotel bridge. There's no truss or suspension element, like a long bridge might have in reality, and the size of the building that must be suspended between its two anchor points is *so* far beyond anything built in any structure on Earth. Of course, Treyam's designers are under no obligation to show all the bells and whistles in an initial piece of concept art, and we don't know whether they've got any plans to use some very light, very strong material to gird the structure against collapse. But on the technical feasibility angle, at least for now, we rate Treyam…implausible, at best. But if we assume that it *is* possible to build in its current form, we come to the second question: Will it ever actually be built? Immediately, the answer will tend toward 'no'—and for good reason. After all, if international reports on The Line are to be believed, then Neom's flagship effort is catastrophically behind on its design and construction goals, to the point that just one percent of its projected length will be finished by 2030…under even the best of circumstances. So, if The Line is flagging so far behind, then there should be no hope of Treyam ever being realized...right? Probably, that's the likeliest option at this stage. But it's also worth paying at least some attention to the alternative—and to understand that alternative, we've got to come back to the reason that Neom is being built in the first place. The entire goal of this grand project is to shift the Saudi economy, by force if necessary, away from the short-term-viable fossil fuel industry and toward economic sectors that can sustain the nation indefinitely. The entire reason that a project like Neom is possible, is because Saudi Arabia has quite frankly stupid amounts of money to throw away—and while it's true that those sums don't appear to be enough to cover The Line as initially imagined, there's another side to that coin. Discontinue The Line, freeze its development in place, or adjust to a much slower development timeline to realize a toned-down version of the project…and all of a sudden, there's a whole lot of money back in circulation. As global sources have advocated skepticism around Neom's real limitations, Saudi Arabia has responded with a combination of denials, and distractions…and those distractions, have consisted of a whole lot of concepts for a whole lot of smaller, but still-spectacular infrastructure projects. In fact, Treyam is one of them. There are a couple of reasons why Neom's planners might have decided to respond that way, and certainly, one possibility is that they'd simply like to take the heat off a failing *gigaproject* by capturing people's imagination for as long as they can. But another possibility, is that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may have decided to adjust its long-term thinking, leaving behind near-impossible goals like building The Line, in order to focus on smaller-scale projects like Treyam that *might* still be achievable if they throw inordinate amounts of oil money at the ideas. Whether or not Treyam, specifically, holds up in such an environment, is another question. The precarious structure of Treyam, as it's currently drawn up, doesn't exactly inspire confidence. At this early stage, designed by an architect who's known for designing things that never get built, it's easy enough to abandon. Perhaps some heavily revised floating-bridge hotel does get built, in a way that's a bit more structurally sound. Perhaps the vision of a spectacular bridge hotel fades away, but Equinox builds a pretty kickass traditional hotel beside that same lagoon. Or, perhaps the whole thing gets slashed, or quietly abandoned in hopes that the world won't ever notice. And, in a way, that's the beauty of the entire Neom project, as it currently exists. We can be pretty sure that the real thing, whatever it becomes, probably won't look like the concept art…but where it goes, whether it collapses, or how it evolves and perseveres, is a question that may take a generation to finally answer. ## Key Takeaways - Treyam is a proposed luxury resort in Saudi Arabia's Neom project, designed as a bridge over a lagoon. - The architect, Mark Foster Gage, is known for ambitious designs that often remain unrealized. - Neom aims to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy from oil to tourism and innovation, with Treyam as a key attraction. - The feasibility of Treyam's design is questionable due to its massive size and structural challenges. - The future of Treyam and Neom is uncertain, with potential adjustments or cancellations due to financial and practical constraints. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the Treyam hotel? Treyam is a luxury resort designed as a bridge stretching across a lagoon in Saudi Arabia's Neom project. It features 250 hotel rooms with glass-bottomed floors and ceilings, an infinity pool, and lush greenery. ### Who designed the Treyam hotel? The Treyam hotel was designed by Mark Foster Gage Architects, a US architectural studio known for its focus on supreme design aesthetics. ### Where is the Treyam hotel located? The Treyam hotel is situated on the Gulf of Aqaba, at the northernmost stretch of the Red Sea, bridging a lagoon in Saudi Arabia's Neom project. ### What are the key features of the Treyam hotel? Key features of the Treyam hotel include a 450-meter-long bridge with an infinity pool, 250 rooms with glass-bottomed floors, lush greenery, and amenities like scuba-diving and windsurfing. ### What is the Neom project? Neom is a gigaproject proposed by Saudi Arabia with a budget of around $1.5 trillion USD. It aims to reorient the Saudi economy towards tourism, innovation, finance, and other industries. ### What is the current status of the Treyam hotel? As of now, the Treyam hotel is in the early phases of development and is not yet built. It is still in the conceptual and planning stages. ### What are the criticisms of the Neom project? The Neom project has faced criticism for its lack of feasibility, human rights violations, and reports that its flagship city, The Line, may not meet its initial goals. ### What amenities will the Treyam hotel offer? The Treyam hotel is expected to offer world-class culinary concepts, a clubhouse, spa, longevity and technology treatments, and a signature Equinox Fitness Club. ### What is the significance of the Treyam hotel's location? The Treyam hotel's location offers guests views of a pristine desert, rocky highlands, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Egyptian coastline, providing a unique and luxurious experience. ### What is the feasibility of building the Treyam hotel? The feasibility of building the Treyam hotel is questionable due to the structural challenges of supporting a half-kilometer-long bridge with significant weight. The current concept art does not show any structural support elements. ## Sources - [Original MegaProjects video: Saudi Arabia's Insane Bridge Hotel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOHEBkZnLjA) - [https://www.dezeen.com/2024/03/21/bridge-hotel-neom-marc-foster-gage/](https://www.dezeen.com/2024/03/21/bridge-hotel-neom-marc-foster-gage/) - [https://newatlas.com/architecture/treyam-saudi-bridge-resort-neom/](https://newatlas.com/architecture/treyam-saudi-bridge-resort-neom/) - [https://travelweekly.com.au/article/like-nothing-on-earth-saudi-arabias-new-treyam-resort-set-in-a-star-wars-style-landscape/](https://travelweekly.com.au/article/like-nothing-on-earth-saudi-arabias-new-treyam-resort-set-in-a-star-wars-style-landscape/) - [https://travelweekly.com.au/article/like-nothing-on-earth-saudi-arabias-new-treyam-resort-set-in-a-star-wars-style-landscape/](https://travelweekly.com.au/article/like-nothing-on-earth-saudi-arabias-new-treyam-resort-set-in-a-star-wars-style-landscape/) - [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13222503/Saudi-Arabia-announces-latest-audacious-NEOM-destination-Elevated-haven-Treyam-resort-feature-worlds-longest-sky-pool-roof-250-room-resort-built-desert-lagoon.html](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13222503/Saudi-Arabia-announces-latest-audacious-NEOM-destination-Elevated-haven-Treyam-resort-feature-worlds-longest-sky-pool-roof-250-room-resort-built-desert-lagoon.html) - [https://www.businessinsider.com/equinox-planning-resort-for-saudi-arabias-futuristic-desert-city-neom-2024-7](https://www.businessinsider.com/equinox-planning-resort-for-saudi-arabias-futuristic-desert-city-neom-2024-7) - [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-05/saudis-scale-back-ambition-for-1-5-trillion-desert-project-neom](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-05/saudis-scale-back-ambition-for-1-5-trillion-desert-project-neom) - [https://www.dezeen.com/2023/02/14/neom-guide-line-saudi-arabia/](https://www.dezeen.com/2023/02/14/neom-guide-line-saudi-arabia/) - [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2017/10/26/saudi-arabia-launches-a-futuristic-economic-zone?ppccampaignID=&ppcadID=&ppcgclID=&utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=17210591673&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyL24BhCtARIsALo0fSAk8KWg1YHkJpq18a0W9MxRoCs9fkpgkPm9eqJsmi46XuppkV92kAYaAgpJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds](https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2017/10/26/saudi-arabia-launches-a-futuristic-economic-zone?ppccampaignID=&ppcadID=&ppcgclID=&utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=17210591673&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyL24BhCtARIsALo0fSAk8KWg1YHkJpq18a0W9MxRoCs9fkpgkPm9eqJsmi46XuppkV92kAYaAgpJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) - [https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/29/saudi-arabia-says-all-neom-megaprojects-will-go-ahead-as-planned.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/29/saudi-arabia-says-all-neom-megaprojects-will-go-ahead-as-planned.html) - [https://globaldesignnews.com/with-an-artificial-moon-and-flying-taxis-saudi-arabia-unveils-its-utopian-neom-an-ambitious-500bn-giga-project-that-looks-to-the-future-of-sustainable-cities-and-tourism-an/](https://globaldesignnews.com/with-an-artificial-moon-and-flying-taxis-saudi-arabia-unveils-its-utopian-neom-an-ambitious-500bn-giga-project-that-looks-to-the-future-of-sustainable-cities-and-tourism-an/) - [https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/mark-foster-gage-conceptual-architecture/](https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/mark-foster-gage-conceptual-architecture/) - [http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/new-york-citys-newest-proposed-skyscraper-by-mark-foster-gage](http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/new-york-citys-newest-proposed-skyscraper-by-mark-foster-gage) - [https://www.mfga.com/khaleesi](https://www.mfga.com/khaleesi) - [https://www.architecture.yale.edu/faculty/321-mark-foster-gage](https://www.architecture.yale.edu/faculty/321-mark-foster-gage) ## Related Coverage