Saudi Arabia Unveils Ambitious $8 Billion Project: Pangeos, the Massive Turtle-Shaped Yacht City

In a groundbreaking venture, Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans for a colossal turtle-shaped yacht named Pangeos, designed not only as an extravagant vessel but also as a self-sustaining floating city. This ambitious project is set to break records, with an estimated cost of around $8 billion.

Pangeos, named after the ancient supercontinent Pangea, is a colossal undertaking, stretching an impressive 1,800 feet (550 meters) – three times the length of the world’s largest yacht, the Azzam. Developed in collaboration with the design studio Lazzarini, Pangeos is not just a yacht; it’s a floating metropolis featuring shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, public parks, ports for smaller ships, and residential buildings.

The innovative design incorporates over 30,000 cells beneath the living space, allowing the turtle-shaped yacht to remain afloat. Despite its massive size, Pangeos boasts a cruising speed of five knots, sufficient for circumnavigating the globe. Solar panels covering a significant portion of the hull and beam contribute to the vessel’s self-sufficiency, harnessing renewable energy to power its various amenities.

While the project is currently in the prototype and design study phase, both Lazzarini and Saudi Arabia are taking the concept seriously. They anticipate construction to commence in 2033, with an estimated completion time of eight years. To fund this groundbreaking venture, a crowdfunding campaign has been initiated, offering virtual tickets and NFTs that provide access to virtual apartments within the turtle-shaped yacht.

Pangeos represents a visionary leap into the future of maritime architecture, combining luxury yacht features with a sustainable, floating city concept. As Saudi Arabia propels this ambitious project forward, the world watches with anticipation to witness the realization of Pangeos and its transformative impact on the seascape.