Neom is considered the world's largest and most contentious architectural project to day. If you're excited and curious to learn about it and what it will embody, here's everything you need to know about the Saudi mega-project Neom. You're about to enter the future.
What Is Neom and How Will It Change Saudi Arabia?
Neom, an initiative of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, is a significant section of the kingdom that has been designated for development. Although it is sometimes referred to as a smart city, Neom is more correctly described as an area that will include several cities, resorts, and other developments.
The project is being largely bankrolled by the Public Investment Fund, which invests funds on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi development company established to create Neom, which is led by chief executive officer Nadhmi Al-Nasr, claims the fund is contributing $500 billion to the scheme. It forms part of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan to diversify the country's economy in order to reduce its dependence on oil.
All the Details About Neom
Where, when, and what will be in Neom has already been spilled and the details are incredibly amazing, or better yet, out of this world crazy.
Neom encompasses an area of around 10,200 square miles (26,500 square kilometers) in northwestern Saudi Arabia. This is around the size of Albania. The area is bounded by the Red Sea to the south and the Gulf of Aqaba to the west. 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 a 170-kilometer-long linear city that will house nine million people. It will span the Neom area from east to west. The metropolis, according to the developer, will consist of two parallel, 500-meter-high, linear skyscrapers 200 meters apart. The facades of the buildings will be reflected. On the other side, 'Oxagon' is envisioned as an octagon-shaped port city on the Red Sea in the far south of the Neom area. The port and logistics hub will be the world's largest floating structure according to Neom's creator.
Trojena is a projected ski resort in the Sarwat Mountains, near the Neom area. The 60-square-kilometer skiing and outdoor activity resort will be open all year and will host the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
Sindalah is envisioned as a Red Sea island resort. The 840,000-square-metre island, aimed at the yachting community, would include an 86-berth marina and multiple hotels.
When Will Neom Be Built?
Neom is working on ambitious timetables, with the majority of the project expected to be completed by 2030. Drone footage of site preparation for The Line was released last year, and Neom recently released a video showing glimpses of work on the site.
The Sindalah luxury island is the first to be completed, with the developer of Neom planning to welcome its first guests in early 2024. Oxagon, a port city, will follow soon after, with the first people expected to move in by 2024 and the onshore portion of the city expected to be completed by 2030. Trojena ski resort will open in 2026.
The Line, Neom's main component, will be rolled out between now and 2045 according to the creator. The goal is to have one million people living in The Line by 2030. Some observers have been skeptical of these timelines. Neom already has 2,400 employees, according to the developer.
Architectural Firms in Charge of Neom’s Design
Only a few architecture firms have been formally identified as the Neom project's designers. Aecom, a US studio, is listed as a partner on the Neom website. The developer of Neom stated that the Trojena ski resort is being designed by UK firm Zaha Hadid Architects, Dutch practice UNStudio, US studio Aedas, German studio LAVA, and Australian studio Bureau Proberts. Italian superyacht and architecture studio Luca Dini Design and Architecture has been announced as the designer of the Sindalah resort.
Although there are certain critics of the impact this project will have on the environment, it is certainly one that'll impact the future of the world, making it brighter, more innovative, and a leading project worldwide.
Photos by Neom.
