In 1791, Pierre Charles L’Enfant stood on the banks of the Potomac River, sketching a vision for a capital city that would rise from marshlands and forests. His plans — marked by sweeping boulevards radiating from the Capitol, expansive public squares and a grand axis connecting the White House to the Congress — were dismissed by some as impractical for a young nation of farmers and traders. Over time, those broad avenues filled with the footsteps of diplomats, protesters and leaders, and the open spaces became stages for historic speeches and movements. Washington, D.C., grew into more than a city; it became a living symbol of democracy, power and the audacity of a nation’s dreams.

Today, Saudi Arabia’s deserts and coastlines are undergoing a transformation no less ambitious. Vision 2030, the kingdom’s blueprint for the future, is reshaping the physical and cultural landscape.

From the mirrored skyscrapers of NEOM to the ecotourism havens along the Red Sea