What Is the NEOM Project?
NEOM is an ambitious mega-city and economic
zone in northwest Saudi Arabia. It was launched in 2017 by Saudi leadership and
is built to support a future beyond oil. The project covers about 26,500 square
kilometres. It aims to be powered entirely by renewable energy and to adopt a
circular economy model.
Vision and Goals Behind NEOM Saudi Arabia
NEOM is designed as a “living laboratory” for
innovation, technology, sustainability, tourism and industry. Its role within
Vision 2030 is to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy away from oil and gas. The
goals include reducing urban sprawl, offering better livability, and creating
new sectors for jobs and growth.
Location and Key Features of NEOM City
NEOM is located on the Red Sea coast, in the
Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia, close to Egypt and Jordan. Its setting provides
long coastline access, islands, mountains and strategic global trade routes.
NEOM is planned to operate under its own regulatory framework, with independent
tax, labour and judicial systems. (pif.gov.sa)
The Line NEOM Project – Saudi Arabia’s Futuristic Linear Smart City
What Is The Line?
The Line is a linear city project inside NEOM.
It is planned to run for about 170 km with a minimal width and no cars, streets
or carbon emissions. (Wikipedia) The idea is that all services and
amenities will be within a five-minute walk for residents.
Design, Technology, and Living Concept of The Line
The Line focuses on vertical urbanism—stacking
homes, offices and facilities to reduce land use and preserve nature. Smart
systems, high-speed transit, AI and renewable energy are part of the design. (line-neom.com)
Trojena NEOM Project – The Mountain Resort Destination
Overview of Trojena Project
Trojena is NEOM’s mountain tourism region. It
is located in a high-altitude zone (around 2,600 m) and aims to be a year-round
destination for adventure and luxury. It combines mountain landscapes with
lakes, resorts, outdoor sports and nature-based design. (Al
Arabiya English)
Adventure Tourism and Sports Activities in Trojena
Trojena will offer skiing, snow sports, summer
adventure activities and events. It is set to appeal to international
travellers, athletes and luxury resort guests alike. (Al
Arabiya English)
Oxagon NEOM Project – The Floating Industrial and Innovation Hub
What Is Oxagon Project?
Oxagon is designed as NEOM’s industrial,
logistics and innovation hub on the Red Sea coast. It will support advanced
manufacturing, port operations and clean industry. (Arab
News PK) The plan includes integration with other NEOM zones and a railway
corridor linking Oxagon with The Line.
Smart Industry and Technology Goals
Oxagon will focus on clean industry,
automation, digital technologies, and sustainable manufacturing. It is designed
to be a major node in global supply chains.
Sindalah Island NEOM – The Luxury Red Sea Tourism Project
Introduction to Sindalah Island
Sindalah Island is NEOM’s high-end resort
island in the Red Sea. It will include marinas, resorts, luxury housing, and
international tourism. The island is part of EOM’s hospitality and tourism strategy to
attract global visitors.
Luxury Resorts, Marinas, and Attractions
Sindalah will house world-class hospitality,
fine dining, yachting and leisure experiences. It is positioned to compete as a
top global destination in the luxury tourism sector.
Aquellum NEOM Project – The Hidden City Inside Saudi Arabia’s
Mountains
Concept and Vision Behind Aquellum
Aquellum is a planned subterranean and
mountain-integrated city inside a massive mountain. It aims to blend
architecture, nature and innovation. The idea is a hidden city offering a
unique living and tourism experience.
Design and Engineering of the Hidden City
The design involves carving out large volumes
of mountain and integrating living, leisure and business spaces inside. It
emphasises minimal external impact and high sustainability.
Saudi–Egypt 32 km Bridge (Moses Bridge) – Connecting Two Continents
Background
The proposed Saudi–Egypt 32 km Bridge (often
dubbed the “Moses Bridge”) is intended to link Saudi Arabia and Egypt across
the Red Sea / Gulf of Aqaba. It aims to enhance connectivity, tourism and trade
between the two countries.
Route, Design, and Technical Details
While full details and official confirmation
remain variable, media reports suggest a bridge or tunnel approx 32 km long,
forming part of NEOM’s connectivity strategy. It would support the broader NEOM
network of zones and infrastructure.
Table: Comparison of NEOM Sub‐Projects
|
Project |
Primary
Focus |
Unique
Selling Point |
Status
(publicly reported) |
|
The Line |
Linear smart
city |
No cars, zero
emissions, vertical urbanism |
Planning
& early construction |
|
Trojena |
Mountain
resort city |
High-altitude
ski/luxury tourism |
Under
development |
|
Oxagon |
Industrial
& logistics hub |
Floating
industrial city, supply chain |
Contracts
awarded |
|
Sindalah
Island |
Luxury
tourism island |
High-end
resorts, yachting, Red Sea |
Tourism
components initiated |
|
Aquellum |
Hidden
mountain city |
Subterranean/mountain
integrated living |
Concept and
early planning |
|
Saudi–Egypt
Bridge |
Continental
link |
Connects
Africa & Asia via NEOM corridor |
Feasibility /
planning stage |
NEOM’s Role in Saudi Vision 2030
NEOM is central to Saudi Arabia’s long-term
Vision 2030 strategy. It is intended to become a key growth engine for non-oil
sectors including tourism, advanced industry and technology. By offering new
models of living, working and leisure, NEOM seeks to raise global
competitiveness of the kingdom and attract foreign investment and talent. (saudiarabiaabc.com)
Economic Diversification and Job Creation
NEOM is expected to create thousands of jobs
across sectors—energy, biotech, tourism, construction and service industries.
The diversification target includes moving away from oil dependence.
Innovation, Sustainability and Smart Living
With plans for renewable energy, smart cities,
autonomous transport and reduced environmental footprint, NEOM aims to become a
model for sustainable development globally.
Challenges and Future of NEOM Project
While NEOM presents an inspiring vision, it
also faces significant challenges: technical complexity, huge financing needs,
environmental concerns, human rights scrutiny and deliverability risks. Some
projects have been scaled back or delayed; a realistic long-term view is needed.
For example, NEOM has been described as a “50-plus year plan” by officials. (Business
Insider)
Financing and Scale
NEOM’s total capital expenditure is expected
around US$500 billion. (pif.gov.sa) Financing comes from the sovereign
Public Investment Fund and external investors. The sheer size and cost pose
financing and delivery challenges.
Environmental and Social Considerations
Building on pristine coast and desert involves
ecological sensitivity; concerns also include worker conditions and
displacement of local tribes. (Encyclopedia
Britannica) Managing sustainability in such large-scale development remains
a core challenge.
Technological and Delivery Risks
While the concepts are futuristic (smart
transport, no cars, vertical cities), the actual implementation of such systems
at scale is untested. Achieving a fully carbon-neutral city with no cars in the
timeframe proposed is ambitious.
Frequently Asked
Questions
1. What is the NEOM project?
NEOM is
a smart mega-city being built in northwest Saudi Arabia. It aims to use clean
energy, modern technology, and offer a new way of living.
2. What is the
full form of NEOM?
NEOM
doesn’t have an official full form. “Neo” means new
in Greek, and “M” stands for Mustaqbal,
which means future in Arabic — so it means “New
Future.”
3. Is NEOM
actually going to be built?
Yes,
construction has already started. Some parts like Sindalah
Island are almost ready, but the full project will take many
years to finish.
4. What is NEOM famous
for?
NEOM is
famous for its futuristic designs like The Line,
Oxagon, Trojena,
and Sindalah Island, which all
focus on sustainability and technology.
5. Who is the owner of NEOM?
NEOM is
owned by the Government of Saudi Arabia and
managed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF)
under the vision of Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
6. What is the salary in NEOM?
NEOM
offers high salaries to attract global talent — usually higher than average pay
in Saudi Arabia, especially for skilled and technical jobs.
7. Why is NEOM important for Saudi Arabia?
NEOM supports Vision 2030, helping Saudi Arabia reduce its oil dependence and create new jobs in tourism, technology, and renewable energy.
Conclusion – NEOM as the Future of Smart Living
The NEOM project stands as one of the most
ambitious urban development programmes globally. It seeks to redefine how
people live, work and play in a high-tech, sustainable environment. The
combined projects—The Line, Trojena, Oxagon, Sindalah, Aquellum and the
Saudi–Egypt Bridge—illustrate a multi-faceted vision. While the timeline and
scale remain enormous, NEOM’s potential impact on Saudi Arabia’s economy, on
global urban design and on sustainable living is significant. If executed well,
NEOM could become a blueprint for future cities around the world. However, the
road ahead is long—many years of construction, investment and innovation lie
ahead.
For readers of viralreview.pk, NEOM offers both inspiration and real-world questions: Can such a vision be delivered? How will the balance between luxury, sustainability and local context be managed? Will the promised smart city become a functioning community? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: NEOM is changing the conversation about urban development, for both Saudi Arabia and the world.