Neom (Arabic: نيوم, romanized: Niyōm, Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [nɪˈjo̞ːm], stylized as NEOM) is an arcology and planned city being built in Tabuk Province in Saudi Arabia. It was launched in 2017 by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who was the driving force and hands-on chair behind the project. The project, which was heavily criticized for its unrealistic plans, human rights violations and environmental destruction, has been substantially scaled back after years of delays and cost overruns.
The site is at the northern tip of the Red Sea, due east of Egypt across the Gulf of Aqaba and south of Jordan. The total planned area of Neom is 26,500 km2 (10,200 sq mi). Multiple regions are planned, including a floating industrial complex, global trade hub, tourist resorts, and a linear city powered by renewable energy sources. Thousands of people have been forcibly moved to make way for the project and villages have been razed.
Much of the city was planned to be completed by 2030, as it is one of the focal points of Saudi Vision 2030. Experts expressed skepticism about the ambitions of the megaproject. Initially estimated to cost $1.6 trillion, the project's estimated costs were by 2025 in excess of $8.8 trillion (more than 25 times the annual Saudi budget). By July 2022, only two buildings had been constructed, and most of the project area remained bare desert. In 2024, an opening party was held for Sindalah, three years after schedule and at three times its initial cost. As of July 2025, Sindalah remains closed to the public.
In 2024, Neom was reported to have been substantially scaled back from its original plan. An internal audit of the megaproject found extensive problems, including "evidence of deliberate manipulation", by the managers of the project. By 2025, new contracts for Neom dried up and there was no mention of Neom in Saudi Arabia's pre-budget statement for 2026. In March 2026, large contracts for tunneling work and the Trojena ski resort were cancelled.
Neom's construction has been criticised for environmental and human rights violations, with expatriate employees describing abusive working conditions and members of the local Howeitat tribe protesting against their forced expulsion. Around 20,000 people are expected to be forcibly relocated. Members of the Howeitat tribe have been killed resisting evictions, including Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti who was killed by Saudi security forces under disputed circumstances. Three other members of the tribe were also sentenced to death for resisting evictions.
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