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| Neom megacity | |
|---|---|
| Name | Neom megacity |
| Official name | NEOM |
| Native name | نيوم |
| Settlement type | Planned city |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Region | Tabuk Province |
| Established | 2017 |
| Founder | Mohammed bin Salman |
| Area km2 | 26,500 |
| Population est | 0 (planned) |
Neom megacity Neom megacity is a planned urban project in northwestern Saudi Arabia announced in 2017 as part of Saudi Vision 2030. It was unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and proposed as a high-tech zone near the Red Sea, positioned between Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf of Aqaba to attract multinational investors such as SoftBank and partnerships with firms like NEOM Company, The Public Investment Fund (Saudi) and international consultancies including McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group and AECOM.
The concept evolved from strategic diversification efforts linked to Saudi Vision 2030, championed by Mohammed bin Salman and supported by the Public Investment Fund (Saudi). Planners referenced precedents like Masdar City, Songdo International Business District, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and King Abdullah Economic City when articulating goals for sectors including tourism linked to Red Sea Project, medical research centers aligned with Johns Hopkins Medicine partnerships, and advanced manufacturing modeled after Silicon Valley and Shenzhen. International forums such as the World Economic Forum and summits with delegations from United Kingdom, United States, China, Japan and France were used to market the scheme.
Design teams included global firms formerly connected to projects like Foster + Partners portfolios, Bjarke Ingels Group concept work, ARAMCO infrastructure links, and consultancy inputs from McKinsey & Company and Roland Berger. The masterplan cited inspiration from linear city theories, smart-city prototypes such as Songdo, and transit models like High Speed 2 and Gulf Cooperation Council corridor proposals. Urban components were proposed to integrate aviation assets near Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Tabuk), port access at Aqaba Port analogues, and renewable arrays similar to Noor Abu Dhabi and Masdar’s renewable deployments.
Funding is largely channeled through the Public Investment Fund (Saudi), with private capital solicitations to sovereign investors including SoftBank Vision Fund, state enterprises like Saudi Aramco, and global institutional investors such as BlackRock and Goldman Sachs. Governance arrangements were described in statements referencing special economic zones modeled on Dubai International Financial Centre and Qatar Financial Centre, with regulatory frameworks inspired by comparisons to British Overseas Territory administrative models and investment terms used in agreements with multinational corporations like Siemens, NEOM Company and Tetra Tech.
The project emphasizes digital infrastructure with ambitions referencing 5G rollouts akin to China Mobile deployments and integration of smart systems like those from Cisco Systems and IBM. Renewable energy targets echo projects such as Noor Abu Dhabi and Shams Solar Power Station, with proposed hydrogen initiatives comparable to pilot projects in Germany and Australia and collaborations discussed with companies like NEOM Company, Siemens Energy, ACWA Power and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.. Mobility concepts drew on examples from Hyperloop One, Tesla, Inc. electric vehicle ecosystems, and autonomous vehicle trials seen in Waymo and Cruise LLC.
Phased construction announced in press briefings involved contractors and developers linked to projects such as Bechtel, Vinci, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Samsung C&T and Arup Group. Early works reportedly included infrastructure and coastal developments comparable to projects at Red Sea Project and King Abdullah Economic City, with timelines communicated in meetings with representatives from Ministry of Investment (Saudi) and portfolio updates from Public Investment Fund (Saudi). Proposed tourism components referenced resort operators like Six Senses Resorts & Spas, Aman Resorts and hospitality models from Accor and Hilton Worldwide.
Projected economic impacts were framed in investment scenarios similar to estimates used for Qiddiya and King Salman Park and drew comparisons with economic zones founded around Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and Jebel Ali Free Zone. Job-creation forecasts were presented to potential partners including BlackRock, IFC (International Finance Corporation), World Bank delegations and regional chambers of commerce from Egypt, Jordan and Turkey to attract tourism, technology, and logistics firms comparable to DP World and CMA CGM.
Criticism has come from international NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and academic commentators affiliated with Oxford University, Harvard University and London School of Economics', citing forced relocations of local communities compared to disputes seen in projects near Jabal al-Lawz and heritage controversies like those involving Ethiopian dam disputes. Media outlets including The Guardian, The New York Times and Financial Times reported on allegations related to evictions and restrictions affecting the Howitat (Huwaitat) tribe, with legal and reputational risks noted by investors including SoftBank and BlackRock. International diplomatic discussions referenced concerns raised in forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and parliamentary inquiries by delegations from United Kingdom and European Parliament representatives.
Category:Planned cities Category:Saudi Arabia Category:Urban planning