Science fiction has long inspired visions of tomorrow’s cities, but today’s pioneers are turning these dreams into concrete—and sometimes carbon-neutral—realities.
From mirror-clad structures in Arabian deserts to AI-powered urban laboratories beneath Mount Fuji, the following groundbreaking cities redefine urban living through gravity-defying architecture, closed-loop ecosystems, and transportation systems worthy of interstellar civilizations. More than just cinematic backdrops, these real-world projects combine cutting-edge engineering with sustainable design principles, offering blueprints for humanity’s next chapter in urban evolution.
This list spans fully realized marvels already shaping skylines to conceptual prototypes still materializing from blueprints. On that note, let’s get to that list!
Dubai, UAE
Dubai is often hailed as the “City of the Future” thanks to its breathtaking skyline of sleek skyscrapers, innovative architecture, and luxurious amenities — The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and The Museum of the Future is a testament to that.
In addition to its architectural marvels, this desert metropolis boasts indoor snow-skiing, ice skating, and surfing (SURFBASE Dubai, opening in 2025), making it a surreal blend of technology and nature. Its air-conditioned malls and advanced architecture evoke scenes from sci-fi films like Blade Runner’s Los Angeles, where high-tech meets harsh environments.
Upcoming projects: Futuristic developments like Marsa Al Arab (luxury leisure hub), Ciel Dubai Marina (tallest hotel), and Mars Science City (simulated Martian habitat) showcase Dubai’s commitment to state-of-the-art design and sustainability.
Singapore
Singapore, as a city-state, is often referred to as a “smart nation” due to its extensive use of technology to manage everything from traffic to waste management.
Its Gardens by the Bay – featuring the Supertree Grove (18 solar-powered vertical gardens up to 50 meters tall) and the Cloud Forest Dome with its 35-meter indoor waterfall and mist-shrouded walkways is reminiscent of the bioluminescent landscapes of Avatar (2009 film).
The city’s emphasis on sustainability and innovation makes it a model for futuristic urban planning. From its intelligent transportation systems, digital governance, and waste/resource management to its green buildings, Singapore is the picture of modernity and efficiency.
Ranked among the most carbon-efficient economies, the city has also been cited as an archetype for smart city integration by the World Economic Forum.
Chongqing, China
Chongqing is a city that seems to defy gravity, with its skyline featuring horizontal skyscrapers like the Raffles City Chongqing complex, elevated walkways including sky bridges and rooftop roads, and three-dimensional transportation like the Huangjue Bay Overpass. There’s also the Liziba Station, a light rail system running through the 6th–8th floors of a 19-story residential building.
The city’s unique fusion of traditional and modern architecture (e.g., the Hongyadong Ancient Town, an 11-story stilt house complex illuminated by neon lights and the Chongqing Grand Theatre), combined with its futuristic transportation systems, is another city that looks like its straight of a scene from Alita: Battle Angel (2019).
Masdar City, UAE
Located in Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is an urban community that aims to balance environmental goals that are economically viable and socially sustainable — Masdar targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and has reduced waste by 57%. Currently housing 4,000 residents, Masdar aims to scale its population to 50,000 residents by 2030.
The community integrates shaded streets navigated by electric/autonomous vehicles alongside pedestrian routes, building facades that rely on traditional Arab wind towers and modern radiant systems (reflecting an evolution from its original car-free master plan to a more adaptable “green print” model) and smart meters monitor the usage of energy and water consumption.
Its combination of solar-powered infrastructure, recycled construction materials, adaptive architecture, functional laboratories, apartments, and offices positions it as a working blueprint for future cities, making it a rare example of executed sci-fi urbanism.
Songdo International Business District, South Korea
Songdo IBD is a smart city built from scratch with cutting-edge technology — 40% of the building space is LEED-certified, with structures like the Posco Green Building producing 35% of its energy from renewables.
The city also boasts a comprehensive network of IoT devices with smart traffic management, where sensors optimize traffic flow while bike lanes and pedestrian zones minimize car reliance.
The city also incorporates smart waste disposal, where underground pneumatic tubes transport trash to automated sorting facilities. Its sleek, modern architecture gives it a very cinematic sci-fi feel. As of 2025, Songdo has about 150,000 residents.
Smart Forest City, Cancun, Mexico
This project is a blend of nature and technology, featuring over 7.5 million plants (trees, shrubs, and bushes) across 350–400 species in a 557-hectare (1,376 acres) site. Stefano Boeri designed it as a sustainable haven that combines lush greenery with avant-garde architecture reminiscent of futuristic eco-cities often depicted in sci-fi movies.
Smart Forest City includes agricultural fields for food production, a research hub for eco-consciousness, and green architecture (rooftops, facades, and parks). Dubbed a “Botanical Garden within a contemporary city,” it balances built, and natural spaces inspired by Mayan heritage.
The project emphasizes energy self-sufficiency via solar panels and water self-reliance through desalination and canal systems. Mobility is fully electric and semi-automatic, with combustion vehicles banned within city limits.
As of the latest reports, the project awaits final authorization from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Delays are attributed to regulatory reviews and the need for ethical tourism alignment in the region.
Woven City, Japan
Toyota’s multi-billion real-world experiment in futuristic living operates like Minority Report meets My Neighbor Totoro. Located near Mount Fuji, Woven City, with its autonomous vehicles, IoT devices, and sustainable energy sources designed to be a fully connected city, feels like a living lab for sci-fi concepts.
The 175-acre site features roads divided for bots, pedestrians, and self-driving Toyotas, AI-powered smart homes with robots assisting in infrastructure maintenance, Hydrogen fuel cells and solar panel rooftops. Public access begins in 2026, with the first residents (Toyota employees and families) scheduled to move into the wooden “living laboratory” in fall 2025 to test mobility tech.
Oceanix Busan, South Korea
Oceanix Busan is a UN-backed floating city concept [Construction is scheduled to begin between 2025-2028, with the first phase (three platforms) expected by 2028] designed to be sustainable and resilient against rising sea levels.
Its futuristic design, with modular floating islands, may well be the setting for a sci-fi film about humanity’s adaptation to climate change. The city brings Water World vibes to coastal resilience with its hexagonal platforms expanding as needed, zero-waste self-reliant systems, and underwater “Biorock” reefs regenerating marine life.
The Initial phase plans to house 6,000 residents and 6,000 visitors in flood-proof structures that rise with sea levels. The estimated cost of the project is about $600 million.
Telosa, USA
Marc Lore’s $400B plus desert utopia, possibly in the American West, channels The Jetsons (1962) through 15-minute neighborhoods radiating from a water-saving “Equitism Tower,” high-speed rails, and autonomous electric vehicles, including road and air pods delivering goods.
As a model for sustainable living, Telosa’s design includes innovative architecture that focuses on community and technology. While still in development, its vision is reminiscent of futuristic worlds often depicted in science fiction.
Funding includes private investors, philanthropists, and government subsidies, with Phase 1 costing $25 billion — the earliest residential move-in is projected for 2030, with the full 5M population city planned for 2050.
10. NEOM, Saudi Arabia
Imagine a city stretching 170 kilometers across desert valleys and mountains, where mirrored skyscrapers rise 500 meters high, and nine million residents coexist with preserved (mostly) natural landscapes.
This is the vision behind NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s $1.5 trillion megaproject (with reported investments up to $8.8 trillion) anchored by THE LINE—a vertical, car-free urban centerpiece designed to revolutionize sustainability.
Powered entirely by renewable energy, the cognitive city integrates AI-driven infrastructure, underground high-speed rail, and aerial mobility systems like drone taxis. Its compact, layered design ensures all daily essentials lie within a five-minute walk, while high-speed rail connects end-to-end in 20 minutes, prioritizing human well-being over traditional urban sprawl.
Though ambitious, recent reports highlight challenges in scaling the project (with completion now officially targeted for 2045), with delays and budget concerns casting uncertainty over its 2030 initial phase targets.