From a $10 Billion Artificial Island to Singapore's New Mega Port and High-Speed Rail Lines
Portugal's High-Speed Rail Expansion
Portugal has had a high-speed rail system since the 1990s, but the current speed limit of 220 km/h is set to be upgraded by 2030. The primary expansion is the construction of the Lisbon-Porto Line, which will reduce the 314 km journey between Portugal's two biggest cities from nearly four hours to just over one hour at 300 km/h. The project is expected to cost just under €5 billion, with the European Union providing €1 billion.
However, the project has faced some opposition, particularly in southern cities like Faro, which feel left out of the equation. Despite this, the high-speed rail line is expected to have a beneficial impact on Portugal's economy and tourism sector.
Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport Expansion
Dubai's airports are already among the busiest in the world, with Dubai International Airport handling 87 million passengers in 2023. By 2034, the United Arab Emirates could surpass Atlanta, Georgia, as the world's busiest airport system with the completion of the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion.
The $35 billion project will feature gates for 400 aircraft and a capacity of 260 million passengers per year, making it the world's largest airport. The new terminal will include green spaces and 100,000 m² of commercial space, and the airport will be connected to the center of Dubai by an express highway and a railroad line.
Al Maktoum International Airport will be the central part of a larger mega-project called Dubai South, which aims to build an entire city adjacent to Dubai with a population of up to one million people.
Unlike Portugal, Thailand currently does not have any high-speed rail lines, but the country has been working on developing a comprehensive network since 2010. The plan is for trains to travel at up to 250 km/h, with Bangkok serving as the central hub.
Only one of the four proposed lines is currently under construction, linking Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast by 2028 and then connecting to Sema and Nankai by 2030. The project has faced delays due to negotiations with China, which is helping to finance the construction as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
Malaysia is building an artificial island off the coast of Malacca, called the Melaka Gateway, as a major tourism and commercial hub for the region. The initial plan was to build three artificial islands centered around a fourth natural island, but the project has been scaled back to a single artificial island due to political opposition and other obstacles.
The current focus is on the construction of the Malacca International Cruise Terminal, which is scheduled to open in 2026. The project has received support from the Sultan of Johor, Malaysia's current king, and is expected to attract up to 3.5 million tourists per year in the long term.
Singapore is embarking on another massive project, the Tuas Mega Port, which will become the world's largest and most technologically advanced commercial port. The $20 billion project will feature 66 quays along a 26 km stretch, with the capacity to handle up to 65 million containers per year, 1.5 times what Shanghai, the world's largest port, currently handles.
The port will be fully automated, with over a thousand battery-powered, driverless vehicles moving cargo containers and a fleet of self-operating cranes. The new port is expected to be fully operational by 2040, replacing Singapore's current port.
Sri Lanka is also building a massive artificial island project, the Colombo Port City, with the aim of creating a special economic zone to attract foreign companies and investors by 2030. The $15 billion project will feature five districts, including a business center, luxury residential areas, and amenities such as a park and marina.
The project is seen as a significant gamble for Sri Lanka, which has been experiencing a slowdown in economic growth and a rise in poverty rates in recent years. If successful, the Colombo Port City could truly change the country's economic landscape.
While some countries focus on transportation infrastructure, China is also investing in ambitious skyscraper projects. In 2030, Shanghai is expected to have a new tallest building, the 99-story North Bund Center, designed by the renowned architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox.
The skyscraper will be the third-tallest building in Shanghai, following the Shanghai Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. It will also be the world's tallest all-electric skyscraper, with features like a flared base that collects rainwater and a facade that minimizes solar heat gain, supporting China's goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2060.
Part 1/8:
From a $10 Billion Artificial Island to Singapore's New Mega Port and High-Speed Rail Lines
Portugal's High-Speed Rail Expansion
Portugal has had a high-speed rail system since the 1990s, but the current speed limit of 220 km/h is set to be upgraded by 2030. The primary expansion is the construction of the Lisbon-Porto Line, which will reduce the 314 km journey between Portugal's two biggest cities from nearly four hours to just over one hour at 300 km/h. The project is expected to cost just under €5 billion, with the European Union providing €1 billion.
Part 2/8:
However, the project has faced some opposition, particularly in southern cities like Faro, which feel left out of the equation. Despite this, the high-speed rail line is expected to have a beneficial impact on Portugal's economy and tourism sector.
Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport Expansion
Dubai's airports are already among the busiest in the world, with Dubai International Airport handling 87 million passengers in 2023. By 2034, the United Arab Emirates could surpass Atlanta, Georgia, as the world's busiest airport system with the completion of the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion.
Part 3/8:
The $35 billion project will feature gates for 400 aircraft and a capacity of 260 million passengers per year, making it the world's largest airport. The new terminal will include green spaces and 100,000 m² of commercial space, and the airport will be connected to the center of Dubai by an express highway and a railroad line.
Al Maktoum International Airport will be the central part of a larger mega-project called Dubai South, which aims to build an entire city adjacent to Dubai with a population of up to one million people.
Thailand's High-Speed Rail Network
Part 4/8:
Unlike Portugal, Thailand currently does not have any high-speed rail lines, but the country has been working on developing a comprehensive network since 2010. The plan is for trains to travel at up to 250 km/h, with Bangkok serving as the central hub.
Only one of the four proposed lines is currently under construction, linking Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast by 2028 and then connecting to Sema and Nankai by 2030. The project has faced delays due to negotiations with China, which is helping to finance the construction as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
Malaysia's Melaka Gateway Artificial Island
Part 5/8:
Malaysia is building an artificial island off the coast of Malacca, called the Melaka Gateway, as a major tourism and commercial hub for the region. The initial plan was to build three artificial islands centered around a fourth natural island, but the project has been scaled back to a single artificial island due to political opposition and other obstacles.
The current focus is on the construction of the Malacca International Cruise Terminal, which is scheduled to open in 2026. The project has received support from the Sultan of Johor, Malaysia's current king, and is expected to attract up to 3.5 million tourists per year in the long term.
Singapore's Tuas Mega Port
Part 6/8:
Singapore is embarking on another massive project, the Tuas Mega Port, which will become the world's largest and most technologically advanced commercial port. The $20 billion project will feature 66 quays along a 26 km stretch, with the capacity to handle up to 65 million containers per year, 1.5 times what Shanghai, the world's largest port, currently handles.
The port will be fully automated, with over a thousand battery-powered, driverless vehicles moving cargo containers and a fleet of self-operating cranes. The new port is expected to be fully operational by 2040, replacing Singapore's current port.
Sri Lanka's Colombo Port City
Part 7/8:
Sri Lanka is also building a massive artificial island project, the Colombo Port City, with the aim of creating a special economic zone to attract foreign companies and investors by 2030. The $15 billion project will feature five districts, including a business center, luxury residential areas, and amenities such as a park and marina.
The project is seen as a significant gamble for Sri Lanka, which has been experiencing a slowdown in economic growth and a rise in poverty rates in recent years. If successful, the Colombo Port City could truly change the country's economic landscape.
China's North Bund Center Skyscraper
Part 8/8:
While some countries focus on transportation infrastructure, China is also investing in ambitious skyscraper projects. In 2030, Shanghai is expected to have a new tallest building, the 99-story North Bund Center, designed by the renowned architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox.
The skyscraper will be the third-tallest building in Shanghai, following the Shanghai Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. It will also be the world's tallest all-electric skyscraper, with features like a flared base that collects rainwater and a facade that minimizes solar heat gain, supporting China's goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2060.