NEOM: NEOM Creates the World’s Newest Wonders

“You see desert. We see opportunity.” These six words neatly encapsulate how the construction of a futuristic, sustainable new city has come to be underway, a multi-trillion dollar project to include smart towns, port and enterprise sectors, research centres, sports and entertainment venues and tourism centres. The project will cover 26,500 square kilometres made up of 41 coastal islands and encompass a range of sectors, including industrial and logistics, with completion set for 2025.

NEOM’s founder, His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, envisioned the destination as an agent of progress and change, with the concept of future irrevocably intertwined with NEOM’s basic identity: its name, its values and vision. To reflect the project’s global identity, human dimension and remarkable ambition, the word NEOM is derived from ‘NEO MSTACBEL’, whose initials signify core project areas such as media, sports, technology and energy.

The letter M is the first letter of the Arabic word for the future and also the first letter of Prince’s name – Mohammed – and was merged with the word the Greek word ‘NEO’ meaning new, to form the name that constitutes the beacon of change in the world. “Thus, the name NEOM was formed, and from that moment on, the lights of NEOM have pierced the sky, heralding a luminous dawn, a promising future, and a rich life in a land built by man for the sake of all humanity.”

ENVIRONMENTAL STEP CHANGE

First unveiled by Prince Mohammed in 2017, Saudi Arabia’s flagship business and tourism development is of huge significance in the larger 2030 Vision that seeks to diversify the economy. Located on the Red Sea in northwestern Saudi Arabia, NEOM has been designed both to respond to some of the most pressing global challenges facing urban areas and inspire alternative ways of living.

It is to be built in such a way as to highlight mankind’s relationship with the natural world and will preserve 95% of the site’s natural environment, while all energy in NEOM will be 100% renewable emanating from solar, wind and hydrogen-based electricity generation to create a zero-emissions, carbon-positive ecosystem. “The need for fresh solutions to climate change could not be more evident,” NEOM stresses. “That’s why the world needs to accelerate the change to renewables. Fast.”

“NEOM is creating a step change in the way we use and make energy,” underlines Peter Terium, Energy Sector Head at NEOM. “Leveraging an abundant supply of solar and wind to produce clean, affordable energy that boasts minimal emissions and optimal reliability for industry, people and planet, we will become the world’s first region to be powered exclusively by renewables, energising a circular economy that uses all resources efficiently.” 

Solar and wind energy will also offer a singular set of conditions for developing new clean technologies like green hydrogen, posited as arguably the biggest driver of future global decarbonisation. In March NEOM announced the launch of subsidiary company ENOWA, which will lead the development of world-class, sustainable energy and water systems.

“ENOWA benefits from NEOM’s greenfield site, which has no legacy infrastructure, to advance energy, water, and hydrogen innovation while providing sustainable fuels like green hydrogen to international users,” said H.E. Eng. Abdulrahman AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of ENOWA. “The creation of ENOWA is a significant development for NEOM and the nation, and it will be the blueprint for developments elsewhere for years to come.”

In May, NEOM also launched its very own re-greening initiative in collaboration with the National Centre for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification,  part of its program to rehabilitate at least 1.5 million hectares of land. Supporting the Kingdom’s aims to plant 10 billion trees, it will catalyse the return of 100 million native trees, shrubs and grasses by 2030 to aid the restoration of degraded land and repair wildlife habitats.

“Protecting the natural landscape and ensuring the coexistence of human and natural habitats is integral to NEOM’s vision,” relayed Nadhmi Al-Nasr, Chief Executive Officer of NEOM. “By launching this initiative, we are well underway to becoming a leading contributor to the conservation and preservation of one of the world’s outstanding natural environments.”

“Through pioneering research partnerships, pilot technologies and innovations, NEOM is accelerating its efforts to repair the planet for current and future generations and reconciling the partnership between humanity and nature. NEOM is a living laboratory that will inspire an evolutionary chapter in planetary regeneration and conservation.”

CIVILISATIONAL REVOLUTION

NEOM will consist of multiple constituent parts which include OXAGON, its catalyst for economic growth and diversity in NEOM and the Kingdom. “This will be a place where innovators and entrepreneurs can accelerate ideas from labs to market, and a city where people come together to live, work and play – in thriving communities,” NEOM enthuses of a key element in its quest to become a hub for innovation for both established global businesses and emerging players.

“OXAGON sits as the industrial hub of NEOM with an integrated port and logistics facility, the most state-of-the-art facility in the world delivering a tremendous amount of value to everybody across NEOM. OXAGON is also the first major residential development to go live and it will embody all the values of NEOM, from sustainability to liveability, and is the home for large-scale industrial activities such as hydrogen, water and modular building production.”

As NEOM awards key drill and blast tunnelling contracts for work on the region’s infrastructure, considered one of the world’s largest transportation and utility projects, work is progressing to achieve its awe-inspiring vision of the new future. Unveiled in July were details of the megacity billed as a ‘civilisational revolution’, THE LINE, only 200 metres wide but 170 kilometres long and 500m above sea level where, eventually, 9 million people will be accommodated.

“THE LINE will provide an unprecedented urban living experience while preserving the surrounding nature,” NEOM declares. “It redefines the concept of urban development and what cities of the future should look like, putting people first and prioritising health and wellbeing over transportation and infrastructure, unlike traditional cities. No roads, cars or emissions, it will run on 100% renewable energy and 95% of land will be preserved for nature.”

“THE LINE will tackle the challenges facing humanity in urban life today and will shine a light on alternative ways to live,”  promises His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Chairman of the NEOM Company Board of Directors. “We cannot ignore the liveability and environmental crises facing our world’s cities, and NEOM is at the forefront of delivering new and imaginative solutions to address these issues.”

“NEOM is leading a team of the brightest minds in architecture, engineering and construction to make the idea of building upwards a reality.”