A stadium 350 meters high in the air? The “Saudi true ambition” behind the “AI fake news”

Written by Han Bing Recently, a 3D concept video depicting Saudi Arabia’s plan to build a stadium on top of a 350-meter skyscraper has been spreading wildly on social media worldwide. Numerous independent media and even official outlets have reposted it, praising the stadium’s advanced design concept. In reality, this is a “half-true, half-false” example of AI-era fake news. The truth is that Saudi Arabia does plan to build a stadium 350 meters above ground, but the falsehood lies in it not being located on a skyscraper’s rooftop. The 3D concept video in this fake news was generated by AI software, created in just 2 minutes on a phone and posted online. Unexpectedly, it attracted over 50 million views in a short time, becoming a viral sensation.

The AI-generated video behind this fake news was created by 34-year-old British man Liam Horse. His social media account was registered only in early October and primarily features AI-generated concept videos of various grand architectural styles, mostly stadiums. He never labeled it as a design concept for a new Saudi stadium, but once some media dubbed it a Saudi stadium, combined with Saudi’s actual stadium plans, it spread virally. The UK’s Daily Mail was the first to debunk this typical AI-era fake news case, serving as a warning to social media platforms and global media. AI-generated images and videos are not only widespread in daily life but have also begun producing global “fake news.”

The fake news claiming the stadium is built atop a skyscraper, defying physical laws, sparked strong interest in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM new future city’s real stadium project. The official social media account of the NEOM project released an advanced stadium concept last December, which, compared to the “fake video” of a skyscraper-top stadium, clearly has more architectural feasibility.

The stadium is indeed 350 meters above ground and is part of Saudi Arabia’s new linear city architectural complex. According to the design, fans will reach the stadium via a high-speed city bus system, then enter the stadium area through an internal transport system. There is no issue like the AI-generated video’s physically impossible skyscraper-top stadium being too heavy or lacking sufficient evacuation and traffic capacity.

The NEOM stadium is located at the “Secret Pier” area on the Red Sea coast at the western end of “THE LINE,” a futuristic fully intelligent city under construction by Saudi Arabia. THE LINE is a key component of Saudi’s national strategy “Vision 2030,” consisting of two mirrored linear buildings 170 kilometers long, 200 meters wide, and 500 meters high, accommodating 9 million residents. Both ends are fully enclosed by glass mirror walls isolating it from the outside, with all essential services within a 5-minute walk. The city has no cars or roads, relying entirely on a high-speed new energy public transit system.

This ultra-long linear city’s blocks are stacked in layers, with five levels in total: pedestrian paths at ground level, underground infrastructure and high-speed transit each occupying one level, and the 4th and 5th floors dedicated to residential, commercial, and public activities. The entire city is AI-controlled and powered by zero-emission new energy. The NEOM stadium is situated on the city’s highest 4th and 5th floors, 350 meters above ground, connected to surrounding buildings as part of the upper structure of this linear city with a solid foundation. The stadium’s roof blends seamlessly with the reflective facade that shapes NEOM’s skyline. Spectators can enjoy views of the desert, Red Sea, and nearby grand buildings through the stadium’s glass walls on the north and south sides facing outward.

The NEOM stadium seats 46,000 people and is one of the 15 main venues for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Construction is expected to start in 2027 and finish by 2032. Upon completion, it will serve as the new home stadium for the NEOM SC men’s and women’s teams competing in the Saudi professional league. The stadium features advanced air conditioning and lighting systems for all-weather matches. Nearby are five luxury hotels and affiliated training facilities. Besides football, it can host concerts and other large events, regarded as a landmark centerpiece for the local community.

However, THE LINE’s design concept is extremely futuristic, with a lengthy construction timeline and very high costs. The original plan was to complete a 5-kilometer core demonstration zone by 2030 and the full 170 kilometers by 2045. The latest update shows only 2.4 kilometers of the demonstration zone will be finished by 2034, and full completion is expected by 2080, costing as much as $8.8 trillion. Whether the equally avant-garde NEOM stadium will be completed on schedule remains uncertain.