What is Neom City, and what's going to happen?

Neom is arguably the world's largest and most controversial architecture project. Here, we explain the key details of the development in Saudi Arabia, which includes The Line megacity

Nearly 20% of infrastructure works at NEOM, Saudi Arabia's $500 billion futuristic cities are completed according to the agency's report. Saudi's mega engineering project will be powered by clean energy, without cars and the streets will have no streets or zero carbon emissions. NEOM is a combination of the Greek word NEO (new) and M both the first letter of the Arab word Mustakbal (the Future) and of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

THE FUTURE OF URBAN LIVING

A cognitive city stretching across 170 kilometers, from the epic mountains of NEOM across inspirational desert valleys to the beautiful Red Sea. A mirrored architectural masterpiece towering 500 meters above sea level, but a land-saving 200 meters wide. THE LINE redefines the concept of urban development and what cities of the future will look like. A civilizational revolution, its unparalleled livability can be explored at THE LINE Exhibition – now welcoming visitors in Riyadh.

Here's all you need to know aboutNeom- a mega architectural project in Saudi Arabia

WHERE IS NEOM?

Neom encompasses an area of around 10,200 square miles (26,500 square kilometres) in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

The area is bounded by the Red Sea to the south and the Gulf of Aqaba to the west.

WHAT WILL BE IN NEOM?

According to the developer, Neom will consist of 10 projects that they refer to as regions. So far, details of four of the regions have been announced. These are The Line, which is the most well-known, as well as Oxagon, Trojena and Sindalah.

The Line is planned to be a 170-kilometre linear city that will house nine million people. It will run from east to west across the Neom region. According to the developer, the city will consist of two parallel, 500-metre-high, linear skyscrapers standing 200 metres apart. The buildings will be clad with mirrored facades.

Oxagon is planned as an octagon-shaped port city that will be built on the Red Sea at the far south of the Neom region. According to Neom's developer, the port and logistics hub will be the "world's largest floating structure".

NO CARS ON ROADS

The Line will have no cars or roads and will be populated by one million residents from around the world, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced two years ago. The kingdom's de facto leader also said that it would be possible to travel from one end of The Line to the other in 20 minutes, implying that a high-speed rail service would be built.

The brainchild of this futuristic city is Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS

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• The megacity project will spread across 26,500 sq. kilometres on the Red Sea coast (in an area larger than Kuwait or Israel).
• Neom will be split into 10 different regions including a floating port, a ski resort in the Sarwat Mountains, and a mirrored city.
• In NEOM, luxury island destination Sindalah will be launched for tourism, Trojena will be a mountain destination, THE LINE will be the flagship city, and Oxagon will be a gateway for clean industries.
• By 2026 NEOM is expected to house some 450,000 people, raising the number to 1.5 to 2 million people by 2030. Eventually, The LINE will be home to nine million residents and will be built with a footprint of just 34 sq km. The Line will be 100 m tall and 200 metre wide and 170 km long.
• At Neom city, the LINE's communities will be organised in three dimensions. Residents will have access to all their daily needs within 5-minute walk neighbourhoods. By leveraging AI, services will be autonomous. THE LINE will have a mirror glass facade.
• Neom will feature the world's largest green hydrogen production plant.
• All energy in NEOM will come 100% from renewable energy sources -- the sun and the wind - and there will also be hydrogen-based power generation -- all ensuring a zero-emission, carbon-positive ecosystem.
• One of NEOM's most ambitious plans - in a country that currently imports about 80 percent of its food- is to become "the world's most food self-sufficient city" by utilizing innovative vertical farming and greenhouses

• Risks and Challenges Associated with NEOM Project in Saudi Arabia: A Marketing Perspective

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• Saudi Arabia has proposed a new project, NEOM city, planned on the coast of the Red Sea with various unique and challenging features as a part of its vision 2030 to transform itself from an oil-dependent economy to knowledge-based economy. However, there are various risks and challenges associated with the project, the study of which is essential to effectively design and implement marketing and promotional strategies. Considering the large scale and scope of the project, the purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate the major contexts and associated risks in accordance with the planned city’s objectives. An online questionnaire-based survey was used to collecting data related to the severity of the risks identified and classified in a literature review. A purposive sampling approach was adopted to select experts from various governmental institutions to participate in the study. A final sample of 417 expert participants was achieved from various ministries and departments in Saudi Arabia.

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• 1. Opportunity-rich developmental area
  This special zone is located in the Northwestern region of Saudi Arabia and is set to include territory from within the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, to comprise a total area of 26,500 km2. NEOM will provide a plethora of unique development opportunities, as the project’s strategic coastal Red Sea location is notable for its
  Proximity to international markets and trade routes:
  — Approximately 10% of the world’s trade flows through the Red Sea
  — Connecting Asia, Europe, Africa and America, the zone will enable 70% of the world’s population to reach it in under eight hours
• Temperate climate and diverse terrain:
  — The unique geographical location of NEOM ensures a temperate climate, roughly about 10°C cooler — on average — than its surrounding areas, and the rest of the GCC. Cradled in a mountainous region that is home to breathtakingly diverse terrain in the North of Saudi Arabia, the area earmarked for the development also enjoys cooler winds coming in from the Red Sea for the best possible climate for future residents.
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  Incredible terrain that offers:
  1) Untouched beaches with more than 460km of pristine coastline and several spectacular islands
  2) Scenic mountains reaching up to 2,500km in height, with views across the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea, where during parts of winter some are covered in snow
  3) Idyllic and peaceful desert expanses that astound the visitors
• Development from the ground up:
  — The blank slate upon which NEOM is set to be developed provides unique opportunities. The fundamental distinction from traditional urban planning projects is the new technology that will be built into the blueprints of the infrastructural framework.
  Richness in natural resources:
  — Situated in an area rich in wind, and solar energy resources, the location of NEOM provides an ideal environment in which to develop renewable energy projects
  _ Perennial solar resources (20 MJ/m2)
  — Ideal wind speed (an average of 10.3 m/s)
  — The area is also rich in Oil and Gas as well as Mineral resources. The use of such resources will have to live up to the unmatched high sustainability standards.
  2. Advantages of the project
  NEOM offers unique opportunities and advantages to leading investors and business owners worldwide, with the aim of stimulating GDP growth in the Kingdom. This project offers potential investors:
  — Direct access to the Saudi Arabian market and global markets, given its unique geographic location as a hub that links three continents
  - Comprehensive supply and innovation systems
  — Funding and financial incentives
  — Favorable industry specific regulatory environment paired with international trade laws
  — An infrastructural environment which puts the human first and technology in its hands to experience the future first
  — Redirecting Saudi spend abroad back indirectly into NEOM. This is an incredible opportunity, as Saudis spend significant amounts on tourism ($15 billion), healthcare ($12.5 billion), education ($5 billion), and general investment abroad ($5 billion)