It’s been touted as one of the most ambitious in the world and is expected to cost the Kingdom at least $500 billion — with some estimates reaching up to $1.5 trillion.
The city is part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 project, which plans to revolutionize the country’s oil-dependent economy for a post-fossil fuel future. However, some critics have cast doubt on whether the project will be completed as planned.
Recent reports indicate Saudi Arabia may be facing difficult questions about the megaproject’s financial, environmental, and humanitarian impacts.
From a year-round ski resort in the desert to a network of futuristic robots, here are the some of the most ambitious aspects of Neom.
1. A city inside twin mirrored skyscrapers
The Line is perhaps the best-known element of Neom thus far.
Designs for the city include twin 1,640-foot-high mirrored skyscrapers positioned 656 feet apart.
According to Neom’s website, the city will have no roads, cars, or emissions and run only on renewable energy.
The first stage of the project was due to be finished by 2030, but recent reports suggest developers may be facing financial difficulties.
Planners have also raised environmental and design concerns, including the risk the mirrored skyscrapers pose to migrating birds.
2. Swim lanes for commuters
The megacity is also considering including swim lanes for commuters, according to a Neom “style catalog” seen by Bloomberg.
Neom planners are reportedly considering including canals with swimmable water, which would allow residents to swim to work or school.
Jan Paterson, Neom’s managing director for sport, described the idea to Bloomberg in 2022, claiming a sixth grader living in Neom could carry a waterproof backpack and swim all the way to school.
3. A year-round ski resort
The desert city is also set to have a year-round ski and adventure resort called Trojena. Located in the mountains of the Tabuk region, it will host more than 100,00 feet of ski slopes, according to Neom’s website.
Planners say they will use “a combination of real and artificial snow to create a truly magical place for alpine sports all year round.”
4. A robot and AI network
Neom has grand plans to be the most high-tech city in the world.
CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr claimed in 2017 that the project would host more robots than people.
High-tech plans for the megacity range from “digital twins” that will mirror residents’ biometrics and health data, to humanoids at hotel check-in desks.
Neom will also feature an “immersive, mixed-reality metaverse,” according to its website.
5. A suspended infinity pool
Neom is planning to host the world’s longest infinity pool.
Stretching some 1,500 feet, the pool would be suspended 220 feet above the sea on the southern end of the Gulf of Aqaba in Treyam — one of Neom’s recently-announced regions.
Planners have described it as a “premier resort” designed for “adventure and endeavor.” The region will also offer other activities such as sailing, diving, and other water sports.
6. Mixed-reality theme park
Neom also plans to build theme parks that integrate virtual and physical experiences.
The planned attractions are aimed at offering a personalized, immersive gaming experience that blends with real-world interactions.
Neom’s managing director of media, entertainment, culture, and fashion, Wayne Borg, told Wired in April 2021: “For gamers, it’s taking their online experience and extending seamlessly into a mixed-reality theme park experience. These will be hyper-personalized, transformative experiences that don’t exist today.”
7. Rewilding projects
Neom officials plan to protect 95% of the sites’ land and sea as nature reserves.
This means embarking on an extensive rewilding program, including restoring natural water flows to the area.
Paul Marshall, Neom’s chief environment officer, told Wired the land in question has a long history of use — and overuse.
“Large parts of the landscape are quite heavily over-grazed by camels and goats, and the marine waters are quite over-fished. And so we don’t want to preserve — we want to actively restore,” he said.
Saudi Arabia has been under further scrutiny after a BBC News investigation found that forces had been authorized to kill residents to clear the way for the megacity.
