The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is about to become the home of an innovative and ambitious development project – Pangeos, a giant floating city in the shape of a turtle. Pangeos is the world’s first free-floating city, with plans to be anchored off the coast of Jeddah. It will become a unique destination for residents and visitors alike, offering new opportunities for leisure, education, research, and other activities. The project will serve as a testament to the Kingdom’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and creating a better future for its citizens and the world. Pangeos will be the latest addition to the growing list of cities in the Middle East that are transforming into modern metropolises.
Overview of Pangeos
Pangeos aims to transform Jeddah’s waterfront into a sustainable environment with new parks, sustainable education programs, and research facilities. The project also aims to create a hybrid environment where land and water meet, much like a tropical oasis. Pangeos will be the world’s first free-floating city, which means that it will not be anchored to the sea floor. Instead, it will be held in place by a group of balloons that will be filled with air. The idea is to create an artificial paradise with its own ecosystem, much like a tropical island, where people can live and work. The idea of a free-floating city is not a new one. In fact, the first concept for such a project was proposed by Jules Verne. Verne envisioned a ship-shaped city, anchored to the ocean floor, that would have its own source of energy and be completely self-sufficient.
Features of Pangeos
Pangeos is designed to be innovative and sustainable, using renewable energy and clean water technologies. The project will also foster education and research in the fields of marine biology, climate change, and other sciences. Pangeos will provide the opportunity for visitors to enjoy a tropical oasis, with its own ecosystem, right in the middle of Jeddah. Visitors can explore Pangeos’s manmade beaches, visit its aquarium, and even kayak through its canals. Pangeos also offers new opportunities for residents, such as the ability to go fishing or kayaking right in the city. Pangeos will also provide services, such as clean water and energy, that have never been available in that part of Jeddah before.
Benefits of Pangeos
Pangeos will provide the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world with many benefits. First, it will be a unique destination for visitors, creating economic growth for the area. The project will also create a new source of clean energy and a source of fresh water for the area. Pangeos will also be a hub for research and education, providing an opportunity for people to learn more about marine biology, climate change, and other important issues. Another major benefit of Pangeos is the chance it gives Saudi youth to become leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Finally, Pangeos will transform Jeddah into a world-class city, leaving behind the image of a traditional Arabian port.
How Pangeos is funded
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has committed $40 billion towards the development of Pangeos, with the goal of becoming the world’s first free-floating city. Jeddah Economic Company (JED), the master developer of the project, is working with the PIF to secure the funding and make development a reality. Together, PIF and JED have a vision for the future of cities that extends beyond the terrestrial, thereby initiating a new paradigm in urban development. At Pangeos, the city is a scalable environment that can be replicated in other commercial ports across the globe. Investments in Pangeos will be used to finance and develop the city, along with its energy and water systems. Over the next 20 years, more than $100 billion will be invested in Pangeos, including the $40 billion from the PIF.
Sustainability efforts of Pangeos
At Pangeos, sustainability is at the forefront of every design and construction decision. This includes the selection of materials and the use of renewable, clean energy. Pangeos will be powered by solar energy, wind energy, and other forms of renewable energy. The city will also use clean water technology, such as rainwater harvesting and desalination. Pangeos will be designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the Arabian Gulf, including tropical storms and flooding. The project will include a flood-control system that will be able to protect the city and keep residents safe. Pangeos will also include green spaces, such as mangrove forests and wetlands, that will help control flooding and provide a habitat for local wildlife.
Impact of Pangeos on the Kingdom
The completion of Pangeos will revolutionize the way people view the city of Jeddah. The project will transform the area into a modern commercial port with a unique tropical oasis. Pangeos will also provide a hub for education and research and serve as an innovation and technology park. Pangeos will help transform Saudi Arabia into a global destination, while creating new job opportunities and providing residents with new amenities and services.
Timeline for completion of Pangeos
Construction of Pangeos will begin in 2023, with completion expected in 2033. This timeline allows for the research and design aspects of the project, as well as construction and procurement. The timeline was chosen to avoid the summer months, when tropical storms are more common in the Arabian Gulf. During this time, Pangeos will be built in a facility near Jeddah, and once completed, it will be towed to its final location. Pangeos is scheduled to be completed in 2033, with the first phase of development expected to be completed in 2025. Once construction is completed, Pangeos will be fully operational and open to the public.
Plans for future development of Pangeos
Pangeos will offer a variety of housing, commercial, and recreational options, as well as employment opportunities. The project also aims to become a hub for research and education and be a leader in clean technology. Pangeos also plans to partner with universities and research centers across the globe, while creating job opportunities and hosting conferences and events. In the future, Pangeos plans to expand to other cities in the region, including Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. This will allow the project to provide services to a larger population, while expanding its impact and benefits.
Challenges faced by the Pangeos project
The implementation of a unique and innovative project like Pangeos comes with its own set of challenges. For example, construction of the city will take place during the summer months, when temperatures in the Arabian Gulf reach up to 45 degrees Celsius. Pangeos will also be built close to the coast, a very environmentally sensitive area. Construction must be completed before the tropical storm season begins in autumn, as the city’s design will protect it from the storm but not from flooding. Another challenge comes from the unique nature of Pangeos. Since it will be a free-floating city, it must be constructed on a special kind of frame that can support the weight of the city without being anchored to the sea floor. This frame must be able to withstand the force of hurricanes and tropical storms.
Saudi Arabia is home to the world’s first free-floating city, Pangeos. This groundbreaking project aims to transform the coastal city of Jeddah into a modern commercial port with a tropical oasis. Pangeos will be powered by clean energy and provide new opportunities for education and research. The project will also create new jobs and become a global destination. Pangeos is expected to be completed in 2033, at which point it will be open to the public.