Neom (Arabic: نيوم, romanized: Niyōm) is a futuristic urban development being constructed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The project, initiated in 2017 by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, is located at the northern edge of the Red Sea, near the Gulf of Aqaba, with Egypt to the west and Jordan to the north. Spanning an area of approximately 26,500 km² (10,200 sq mi), Neom is set to feature various innovative regions, including a floating industrial zone, a global trade hub, luxury tourist destinations, and a linear city powered entirely by renewable energy.
While the completion of major sections of Neom is expected by 2039, some experts have questioned the feasibility of the project, which has an estimated cost of over $1.5 trillion. Initially, Saudi Arabia aimed to complete key parts of the development by 2020 and expand by 2025, but delays have pushed back the timeline significantly. By mid-2022, only two buildings had been constructed, with much of the site still a barren desert. However, reports in 2024 suggesting the project had been scaled back were denied by Saudi Economic Minister Faisal F. Alibrahim.
The project has also faced criticism regarding environmental concerns and human rights issues. Several expatriate workers have reported harsh working conditions, and local communities, particularly the Howeitat tribe, have protested forced evictions to make way for the development. Around 20,000 people are expected to be displaced, and some have resisted relocation efforts, leading to confrontations. Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, a member of the Howeitat tribe, was killed by Saudi security forces under contested circumstances, and three other tribe members were sentenced to death for opposing the evictions.
Etymology
The name “Neom” is a combination of the Greek word “neo,” meaning “new,” and the letter “M,” which represents both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Arabic word for “future” (مستقبل, Mustaqbal).
Historical Context
Planned cities have been a feature of human civilization for centuries, with examples ranging from ancient Greece and China to the Spanish colonial cities of the 16th century and modern metropolises in the United States. Neom is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which seeks to diversify the nation’s economy beyond oil and develop key sectors like technology, tourism, and public services. The city is envisioned as a hub of innovation, where robots will handle tasks such as security, logistics, and caregiving, and where energy will come solely from wind and solar sources.
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman officially unveiled plans for Neom during the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on October 24, 2017. The city is intended to function independently from the current Saudi government framework, with its own tax, labor, and legal systems. In 2018, Egypt agreed to contribute land to the Neom project.
Klaus Kleinfeld was initially appointed to lead the development of Neom. Later, he transitioned to a role as an advisor to the Crown Prince, with Nadhmi Al-Nasr taking over leadership of the project. As part of the effort to boost international awareness and engagement, a communications firm, Gladstone Place Partners LLC, was hired in 2018.
Neom represents a key element of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to reduce the country’s reliance on oil and expand its economic base by fostering innovation and sustainable development.