Saudi Arabia’s Neom Project: Building the Future or Selling a Dream?

In 2017, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) announced a visionary project that left the world stunned. Neom—a new city stretching over a staggering 10,200 square miles (26,500 square kilometers) in northwestern Saudi Arabia—was designed to redefine the concept of urban development. With a jaw-dropping budget of $1.5 trillion, MBS envisioned Neom as a futuristic metropolis that would attract millions, operating as a technological marvel amid the desert landscape by the Red Sea. Now, seven years later, Saudi Arabia has launched a campaign to silence skeptics by unveiling visual progress of this grand experiment, aiming to reassure investors and the world that this unprecedented venture remains on track.

To reassure doubters, Saudi Arabia introduced Ground X, a private portal offering exclusive access to over two million photos and live feeds from construction sites across Neom’s zones. Reserved for investors and vendors, Ground X gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into progress on the project, and an unmistakable message: Neom is real, and it’s underway. However, this “transparency” remains out of reach for the general public. For those without access, LinkedIn has become an alternative glimpse into Neom’s reality, with Chief Operating Officer of The Line at Neom, Giles Pendleton, regularly posting updates under his series “Neom is real…,” now at part 15. In these posts, he describes the expansive scope of the work, with recent posts hinting at major excavation achievements, visible infrastructure foundations, and ever-growing worker camps.

The Line-Neom’s Defining Structure

If there is one aspect of Neom that has captured the imagination of both supporters and skeptics alike, it is The Line. The concept is audacious—a 105-mile-long (170-km), 660-ft-wide (200-m), and 1,600-ft-tall (500-m) vertical city in the middle of the desert. Designed to house nine million residents, The Line will have no roads or cars, and every resident will be within a five-minute walking distance from essential services. Powered by renewable energy, The Line will offer a high-speed rail that will allow people to travel from one end to the other in just 20 minutes, a concept that is both mesmerizing and daunting in equal measure.

According to Pendleton, The Line’s master plan remains intact at 170 kilometers. He mentions that the city will be constructed in phases, with Phase 1 expected to launch later this year. Yet, despite Neom’s ambitious scope, progress reports are ambiguous, with Pendleton highlighting achievements while countering media skepticism about potential delays or scale-backs. Neom insists that The Line is on track, but with an anticipated completion date in 2039, the world watches and waits, wondering if such a massive undertaking is truly feasible.

Trojena-Skiing in the Desert

While The Line is undoubtedly Neom’s star attraction, Trojena offers a curious addition to the project—a ski resort in the middle of the Arabian desert. Trojena is located in a mountainous area with elevations ranging from 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) to 8,530 feet (2,600 meters), promising a more temperate climate year-round. The resort will boast over 3,600 hotel rooms, an amphitheater, and a variety of dining and retail options, catering to luxury travelers seeking a surreal blend of desert and snow.

According to Neom’s planners, Trojena will allow for three months of skiing annually, a feat achieved through advanced snow-making technology. Trojena’s creators are eager to show that the city’s futuristic image extends beyond tech—this is about redefining what’s possible. From a technical standpoint, maintaining snow in this climate is challenging, but Neom officials believe they have the resources and technology to make it happen.

Sindalah-Luxury Meets the Red Sea

Then there’s Sindalah, Neom’s answer to luxury seaside living. Positioned as a premier resort and yacht club on the Red Sea, Sindalah is envisioned as an ultra-luxury destination for elite travelers. It will feature world-class shopping, fine dining, and breathtaking views. Sindalah, much like Trojena, will be a tourism magnet in an area of Saudi Arabia that has historically been difficult for outsiders to access.

The idea behind Sindalah aligns with Neom’s broader goal of positioning Saudi Arabia as a top-tier destination for global tourism, diversifying the kingdom’s economy beyond oil. The project is expected to boost the kingdom’s profile in the luxury tourism market, providing a seamless blend of Middle Eastern aesthetics and high-end services for those who can afford its steep price tags.

Video source: https://www.youtube.com/@NEOMChannel

Oxagon-The World’s Largest Floating Structure

Neom’s regions vary in purpose and vision, and Oxagon stands out as one of the most unconventional of them all. Imagined as a floating industrial port on the Red Sea, Oxagon is designed to be a hub for advanced industries powered entirely by renewable energy. It is expected to host factories, offices, research facilities, and logistics centers, operating in a sustainable ecosystem fueled by solar and wind power.

The floating city concept of Oxagon is not just symbolic but strategic. Positioned to leverage Saudi Arabia’s location between Asia, Africa, and Europe, Oxagon aims to attract global manufacturing companies and logistics operations looking for a central base with innovative infrastructure. Oxagon will also employ automated systems, such as autonomous drones and vehicles, promising a near-zero carbon footprint.

Magna-Nature and Tourism in Harmony

For those seeking natural beauty rather than technological wonders, Magna is Neom’s offering. This 75-mile (120-km) stretch along the coastline of the Red Sea will feature 12 luxury tourist destinations designed to immerse visitors in pristine nature. While much of Neom is focused on futuristic and man-made marvels, Magna aims to serve as a serene escape, with protected wildlife reserves and resorts that will harmonize with the surrounding landscape.

Neom’s vision for Magna speaks to the city’s commitment to sustainability. By preserving sections of the coastline and dedicating them to ecotourism, Neom seeks to position itself as a pioneer in environmental preservation, setting an example for other mega-developments around the world.

Aquellum- A Subterranean Oasis

Perhaps the most mysterious region within Neom is Aquellum, a “subterranean digitalized community of the future.” Described as invisible from the outside, Aquellum will be built within a mountain on the Red Sea coast. According to Neom’s official site, this hidden world will merge with nature, inverting traditional architectural principles to provide an immersive underground experience.

Aquellum will seamlessly connect accommodations, retail spaces, leisure zones, and innovative hubs, while remaining almost entirely out of sight. Neom’s PR team has described this as “a world driven by boundless imagination,” pushing architectural boundaries to align urban living with the natural environment. Whether Aquellum will become an architectural wonder or an elusive marketing promise is yet to be seen.

Addressing Skepticism and the Future of Neom

The question on many experts’ minds is whether Neom can indeed become a reality, or if it will be remembered as a symbolic display of Saudi Arabia’s aspirations. Critics argue that building an entire city of this scale in one of the world’s most inhospitable landscapes, and with a strict deadline, may be overly optimistic. With reports suggesting potential delays and scale-backs, it is unclear how much of Neom’s original vision will ultimately materialize.

Pendleton, however, remains firm. In one of his LinkedIn posts, he addressed the concerns head-on: “The master plan for The Line remains at 170 kilometers. We are working on Phase 1, which we will launch later this year. Nothing has changed. Imagine trying to build 170 kilometers of city for 9 million people all at once—that’s like building New York or London in one go. It’s impossible.” Neom’s approach, he emphasizes, is methodical, with the city being developed in carefully planned phases.

The Road Ahead- Completion by 2039

For Neom’s creators, completion by 2039 is more than a deadline—it’s a mission. The vision is not just about creating an urban marvel but transforming the idea of cities themselves. Neom’s leaders are banking on advanced AI, renewable energy, and smart infrastructure to achieve what has never been done. The Line, with its solar and wind-powered design, will be entirely self-contained, offering a new model for urban living that is both sustainable and futuristic.

In an unusual twist, Neom will even have its own governance system, distinct from Saudi Arabia’s traditional authority. This system, Neom claims, will encourage tourism, diversity, and more democratic principles within its walls—an idea that has sparked international intrigue.

Yet, Neom’s journey remains clouded with doubt. Building a futuristic city in one of the world’s harshest climates requires not only a vast financial commitment but unprecedented technological innovation. While The Line and other regions within Neom push the boundaries of architecture and urban planning, their completion within the proposed timeline will be nothing short of a miracle.

As of now, the world can only watch and wait. For some, Neom represents an incredible leap forward, a reimagining of human potential in urban spaces. For others, it is a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s ambition—one that may never truly take shape. Whether Neom’s promise is ultimately fulfilled or fades into legend, the project’s legacy will be a testament to the pursuit of innovation in the face of skepticism.

According to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Neom is still on track, and he is resolute in his

Source: Neom

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