Neom

Neom (Arabic: نيوم, romanized: Niyōm, Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [nɪˈjo̞ːm], stylized as NEOM) is a megaproject and planned city in Tabuk Province in Saudi Arabia. It was launched in 2017 by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the project's main supporter and chairman. The project was part of Saudi Vision 2030, and intended to diversify the country’s oil-dependent economy by creating a sustainable, carbon-neutral smart city powered by renewable energy and advanced technology. Neom was the world's largest construction project at its peak. The site is at the northern tip of the Red Sea, east of Egypt across the Gulf of Aqaba and close to Jordan. The total planned area of Neom is 26,500 km2 (10,200 sq mi). Multiple regions were planned, including a floating industrial complex, a global trade hub, and tourist resorts. However, Neom was heavily criticized for unrealistic plans. Costs were originally estimated at $1.6 trillion, but by 2025 had grown to over $8.8 trillion -- more than 25 times the annual Saudi governmental budget. By 2024 there were reports Neom's size and scale would be sharply reduced from original plans. An internal audit of Neom found extensive financial problems, including "evidence of deliberate manipulation" by Neom management. By 2025, new contracts for Neom ceased and there was no mention of Neom in Saudi Arabia's pre-budget statement for 2026. In March 2026, large contracts for extensive work were cancelled. By July 2022 only two buildings had been constructed, and most of the project area remained bare desert. Neom has also been criticized for environmental destruction and human rights violations. There are reports of high rates of death among workers on-site. An estimated 20,000 people are subject to forced displacement, and multiple villages have been razed. Members of the local Howeitat tribe protested against their forced expulsion. Howeitat members have...