Astonishing facts about NEOM, the city of the future

With an estimated worth of $500 billion, NEOM is one of the biggest and most ambitious projects in the world

This futuristic urban development project located in Northwest Saudi Arabia has been creating quite a buzz in the recent times. NEOM, a fully automated, planned cross-border city and economic zone funded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, is one of the biggest and most ambitious projects in the world.

With its first phase set to open in 2024, let’s take a look at some interesting facts and figures about the state-of-the-art city -

• NEOM is derived from the ancient Greek word ‘neo’, which means new and ‘mustaqbal’, the Arabic word for future. ‘M’ also refers to His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Chairman of the NEOM Company Board of Directors, the visionary behind the entire development.  
   

• NEOM is located in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia, which has cooler climate compared to the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The moderate weather here helps it meet its ambitious plans of offering both sunny beaches and snow-capped mountains to its residents.
   
• The major investor behind NEOM is the Kingdom’s PIF that has committed US$500 billion in backing, along with local and international investors. The project is also open to global, regional and local investors/partners.
   

• NEOM consists of a number of regions like The Line, Trojena, Oxagon and Sindalah. While The Line is a linear city stretching across 170 kms across mountains, desert valleys and the Red Sea, the Oxagon is a floating centre for clean and advanced industries. Trojena, the mountain destination, and luxury island resort Sindalah make NEOM, a project like no other.
   

• One of the key aims of NEOM is sustainability. Powered by 100% renewable energy, the project will rely on sources like wind and solar power and implement advanced waste management and recycling systems. It will also focus on environmental conservation, especially the protection of coral reefs and natural habitats in the Red Sea area.
   
• Driven by tourism, entertainment, technology and advanced infrastructure, NEOM is ideally located on the Red Sea in close proximity to the other countries in the Middle East.
   
• With its coastlines extending across 468 kms, NEOM boasts of 41 islands and a land footprint that spans 26,500 sq km – nearly the size of Belgium.
   

• Oxagon is expected to get its first residents in 2024 while Trojena and parts of The Line will open up by 2026.By 2030, one million people are touted to live in NEOM with the number rising to nine million by 2045.