Neom, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious urban development project, appears to be struggling significantly, with recent reports indicating it may be on the verge of collapse. Citing sources within the initiative, the Financial Times sheds light on a troubling pattern of dysfunction at the core of this extravagant venture.
Originally conceived as a sprawling series of futuristic urban developments along the Red Sea coast, Neom’s centerpiece is The Line—a visionary 105-mile-long city projected to accommodate up to 9 million residents by 2030. The design features unconventional architectural elements, some of which now seem impractical even to the project’s own executives. One particularly ambitious plan involved an upside-down building known as “the chandelier,” envisioned to hover above a marina:
As the architects worked on the blueprints, doubts arose about the feasibility of suspending a 30-story building upside down from a high bridge. One architect expressed concern about the structure’s stability, questioning, “You do realize the earth is spinning? And that tall towers sway?” He cautioned that the chandelier could behave unpredictably, potentially swinging like a pendulum before detaching and crashing into the marina below.
With an estimated $50 billion (approximately €46 billion) already invested, the reality on the ground tells a different story. As reported, the landscape is marked by extensive digging and piling, yet Prince Mohammed, the project’s chairman, has significantly scaled back initial plans. Neom insists that The Line is still a “strategic priority,” promising a transformative blueprint for urban living, but describes it as a “multi-generational development” of unprecedented complexity.
Interviews with Neom employees reveal a growing disillusionment regarding the project’s future viability. While they acknowledge some elements of The Line might still be buildable, there is skepticism about securing necessary funding. Work at Neom has slowed considerably, with only a few projects like the desert ski resort Trojena proceeding at a rapid pace. A former employee noted, “Everyone knows the project won’t work; it’s just a matter of letting MBS down gently.”
Funding challenges remain a critical issue, with Neom’s extravagant vision failing to attract significant investment. The Financial Times reported that senior executives persistently seek more financial resources, yet The Line faces competition from other Neom projects. While some wealthy Saudi families have contributed modestly, large foreign investments remain elusive.
A senior construction manager expressed concerns, feeling certain that The Line may never be constructed.
The repercussions for Saudi Arabia’s global reputation could be significant. As a close ally of the United States in the Middle East, the Kingdom has long battled a negative public image. Despite attempts to showcase modernization through Neom, its ambitious goals are now becoming a metaphor for its struggle to modernize effectively. Critics argue that Neom, instead of symbolizing progress, highlights the Kingdom’s ongoing difficulties in shedding traditional constraints.
Tragically, the ambitious development has been fueled by the labor of countless workers, many of whom have faced severe hardships, as highlighted in a Human Rights Watch report detailing fatalities linked to the mega-project.
Conversely, the Kingdom’s strategy to position itself as a major player in the global AI market seems more fruitful. Saudi Arabia has heavily invested in data centers and is actively forming partnerships to provide essential infrastructure for the ongoing tech boom in the West. This approach appears to hold greater promise than the lofty ambitions of a multi-trillion-euro tourist destination.
What’s the status of Neom’s progress and investment? Neom has struggled to secure funding, causing doubts about the future of The Line and other developments. Continued investment from foreign backers has not materialized as initially hoped.
Will Neom serve as a turning point for Saudi modernization? While Neom was designed to shift perceptions of the Kingdom, its challenges may instead underscore the difficulties in transforming past practices and governance.
What is the significance of The Line in the context of global urban development? The Line represents a bold vision of future cities but questions surrounding its feasibility raise larger issues about how innovation and reality can coexist in ambitious projects.
Could AI investments overshadow urban developments like Neom? Yes, Saudi Arabia has been more successful in becoming a key player in the AI sector than promoting its grand urban development visions, suggesting a strategic pivot may be underway.
In conclusion, as Neom continues to face significant hurdles, the future of this daring project remains uncertain. However, the Kingdom’s ventures into the AI sector may offer a more reliable path toward modernization. For more insights and explorations into related topics, be sure to check out Moyens I/O.