In time for hosting the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia is building a sprawling futuristic ‘cognitive’ megacity for tourism, urban living, manufacturing and more. How will it do it?
Along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, taking in mountains, desert, valleys and sun-soaked beaches, Saudi Arabia is constructing a new futuristic ‘cognitive’ megacity that aims ‘to change how people live and look after the planet’. A sprawling 25,500km2 – roughly the size of Belgium – Neom (meaning ‘new’ and ‘future’) is not just another ‘smart’ city, but one of epic oil-money proportions that symbolises the kingdom’s national rebranding.
Under its Vision 2030 initiative bankrolled by its public investment fund, Saudi Arabia is on a self-proclaimed mission to diversify ‘economically, socially and culturally’. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to shift the country’s economy – and reputation – away from fossil fuels to technology and innovation. Mind-blowing budgets of $100bn for both AI and sustainable manufacturing have already been announced.
Neom is the pièce de résistance, however. Marketed as a hub for innovation and a ‘new model for sustainable living’, it is planned to run entirely on renewable energy and house one of the 11 new stadiums the kingdom needs to erect in record time for its winning World Cup 2034 bid – the cherry atop its global rebranding endeavour.
The city will comprise five regions, including coastal Magna, tourist island Sindalah and elevated adventure sports destination Trojena, as well as manufacturing hub and port city Oxagon – but 95% will also be ‘for nature’. How? Well, urban dwellers will mostly reside in rectangular The Line.
Heidi Vella 