NEOM: Everything You Need To Know About KSA’s Futuristic City

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Updated August 2023

In an attempt to do something that’s never been done before, coming at a time when the world needs fresh thinking and new solutions, the planned megacity of NEOM in Saudi Arabia will be a new model for sustainable living, working and prospering.

Saudi Arabia already has a slew of several ambitious projects lined up like the Amaala Project and the Red Sea project, and the proposed smart city of NEOM is all set to open its doors in June this year. 

NEOM latest news

Partnered with the world-leading golf course design and management, The IMG Golf Course, Neom will open an extensive beachfront golf course in Sindalah. As announced on 10 August 2023, The IMF Golf Course will be responsible for the golf club’s establishment, starting from the pre-opening, marketing, and management services.

The golf course is expected to have a 280-meter driving range and golf practice suits equipped with ball-tracking technology and statistic feedback. A wide variety of facilities, such as a gym, an Olympic-size swimming pool, an exquisite spa, and sports courts, will also be included. To support Neom’s sustainable purposes, the golf course is designed to be GEO certified with a high environmental and social responsibility standard. 

Sindalah will also feature more entertainment facilities in addition to the golf course, such as high-class restaurants and a beach club.

What is NEOM and what to expect here?

Neom is a Saudi city being built in the Tabuk Province of northwestern Saudi Arabia. It is planned to incorporate smart city innovations, where world-class technology is fueled with data and intelligence to create a sustainable living space that will also function as a tourist destination. The site is north of the Red Sea, east of Egypt across the Gulf of Aqaba, and south of Jordan.

The new video released by NEOM authorities on Youtube answers the very question “What is NEOM”. Take a look.

NEOM will introduce a new model for urban sustainability powered by 100% renewable energy. With world-class treatment and inclusive care, the city will harness innovative technology, research and education to become a global benchmark in the field. It adopts environmental responsibility principles that promote sustainable and regenerative development practices.

Here are some notable salient features of the project:

• 4-hour flight away from 40% of the globe
• 26,500km² in Saudi Arabia
• Nature is always a short walk away
• 10°C cooler than the rest of the GCC
• 20 mj/m² perennial solar resources
• 100 % renewable energy

Trojena

Trojena will offer year-round outdoor skiing and adventure sports to be completed in 2026. The destination will house six distinctive development districts centred around tailored experiences that blend real with virtual architectural and engineering innovations to create a destination like no other on earth. 

Upon completion, the development will also contain a broad range of homes, including apartments, chalets and mansions, plus hotels ranging from the ultra-luxury and experiential to wellness and family resorts. In addition, there will be a wide range of retail, leisure and dining options. Activities including year-round skiing, water sports, hiking and mountain biking will sit side by side with an interactive nature reserve.

The year-round activities have been planned as follows:

Wellness season (Sep-Nov)

• Wellness summit
• Alternative medicine
• Discovery week
• Yoga retreat
• Artist residency
• Entertainment residency

Winter season (Dec-Mar)

• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Winter fashion week
• Ice skating
• Music festival
• Film festival

Adventure season (Mar-May)

• High-altitude training
• Adventure triathlon
• Yoga retreat
• Mountain biking
• Paragliding
• Climbing

Lake season (May-Sep)

• Music festival
• Food festival
• Art fair
• Cultural week
• Light show
• Yoga retreat

Oxagon

Oxagon is NEOM’s economic and industrial engine, driving innovation in industry and technology whilst offering exceptional livability. The city is designed to attract global talent and breathe new life into manufacturing. With a next-gen automated & integrated port and supply chain fostering an ecosystem for research and innovation, the city will act as a catalyst for advanced transformational industries and a global gateway for world trade. 

Adding to its uniqueness, the city also boasts the following features:

• World’s largest floating structure
• High-speed rail to THE LINE and NEOM airport
• The largest cruise terminal in the Red Sea
• 13% of global trade passes through via the Suez Canal
• 5 min walk to the beach and nature spots
• 100% clean energy
• Port with 3.5m TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) capacity

The Line project

The Line is a never-before-seen approach to urbanization – a 170km-long linear urban development of multiple, hyper-connected communities, with walkable neighbourhoods integrated with public parks and the natural landscape. It is a model of urban design and livability in harmony with nature for the 21st century and beyond.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman announced the plans for The Line development at NEOM. According to his statement, “The Line” will overcome humanity’s challenges in the present urban life and shed light on innovative alternative ways of living.

To develop this revolutionary concept for the city of the future, The Line will be created by a team of architects and engineers renowned worldwide, led by NEOM. The designs of the project will embody how urban communities will be in the future where the abandonment of traditional carbon-intensive infrastructures will make the environment free from roads, cars and emissions.

The city is proposed to create 380,000 new jobs with the following features and plans:

• The Line will have an outer mirror facade, “the Mirror Line” that will provide the structure with a unique character and will integrate even its small footprint with nature. At the same time, its interior will be built to create “extraordinary experiences and magical moments”.
• The Line is set to house 9 million people within a city that occupies only 34 square kilometres, so infrastructure effects will be minimal, enabling the city to utilize its resources more efficiently than ever.
• Powered by 100% renewable energy, the principles of environmental responsibility will be enshrined in business regulations to promote sustainable and regenerative development practices.
• By abandoning traditional carbon-intensive infrastructures, such as cars and streets, “The Line” city will be made carbon neutral or free from carbon emissions.
• It will ensure a comfortable climate throughout the year so that residents can enjoy the surrounding nature and access all amenities within 5 minutes.
• The two buildings of “the Mirror Line” will be connected via walkways, with a high-speed train running underneath them that will help people residing within the city to travel between the two maximum points within 20 minutes.
• The car-free environment of “the Line” and its 100% sustainable transportation system, free from pollution and waiting times, acts as a breather for its residents allowing them to enjoy extra leisure time.
• With the main focus being on the well-being of human beings, transportation and infrastructure in “The Line” will also be designed to serve people and not the other way around.
• The city’s pollution-free life will form a high-density conglomerate, creating a human experience that is full of new business opportunities.
• Communities will live in harmony with nature, where open space, parks, gardens, the natural environment and sustainable food production are mixed seamlessly.
• All businesses and communities in the city are hyper-connected through a digital framework incorporating Artificial Intelligence and robotics that continuously learn and grow – over 90% of the data in NEOM will be analyzed to provide a predictive system with ever-improving services to residents and businesses.
• The communities will be self-sufficient and reflect the personality of their residents, the region and the industries within them.
• The Line will layer city functions vertically, giving people the possibility of moving seamlessly in three dimensions to access them a concept referred to as Zero Gravity Urbanism.

Sindalah

Sindalah is the first luxury island destination in NEOM and one of the most important projects supporting Saudi Arabia’s national tourism strategy. Extending over an area of approximately 840,000 square meters, Sindalah is one of a group of islands that will be developed in NEOM, each according to its unique vision and design.

A main gateway to the Red Sea offering bespoke nautical experiences, Sindalah is expected to start welcoming guests to enjoy its exquisite facilities and exclusive offerings in early 2024. It is anticipated that the development will create 3,500 jobs for the tourism sector and hospitality and leisure services.

Adding to NEOM’s growing tourism offerings, Sindalah will reshape the luxury international yachting calendar offering a new season for visitors and guests to enjoy. It will feature a prestigious 86-berth marina, an ideal destination for accommodating luxury vessels, while offshore buoys will house superyachts. Providing one-of-a-kind nautical experiences, Sindalah will offer 413 ultra-premium hotel rooms, in addition to 333 top-end serviced apartments. A luxe beach club, glamorous yacht club, and 38 unique culinary offerings will provide an incomparable experience in the Red Sea.

With its incredible array of amenities, state-of-the-art marine facilities, strategic location and exceptional natural landscapes, Sindalah is expected to become established as one of the most alluring islands in the Red Sea.

NEOM Bay Airport

Neom Bay Airport is one of the four-airport networks that is projected in the city, one of which is to be international. The commercial airport is 48 km away from the nearest airport, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport. Nadhmi Al-Nasr, Chief Executive Officer of NEOM, said “NEOM Bay Airport is a key enabler of NEOM’s development, facilitating efficient access to NEOM for residents and business partners and drastically improving the ease with which NEOM can connect with people from all over the world”. 

NEOM green hydrogen plant

Almost 20% of the infrastructure works at NEOM have already been completed.

By 2026, NEOM is expected to have the capacity to house around 450,000 people. By 2030, this capacity is expected to grow to 1.5 to 2 million.