Neom Nightmare: MBS’s $500 Billion City of the Future Fails
Initially announced in 2017, Neom was a futuristic megaproject envisioned by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, promising a technologically advanced city including a 170km linear city known as “The Line.” However, the project has faced significant setbacks, with the Saudi government admitting the project will be downsized due to delays and ballooning costs. Architects and urban planners have criticized the project from its inception, deeming it impractical from an urban planning and financial perspective. Despite the Crown Prince’s ambitious goals, the project’s scaling back reflects a shift towards a more realistic approach and may signal a reduced likelihood of similar large-scale initiatives in the future.
John Q. Hosedrinker