Browsing: Neom

• Saudi Arabia’s Neom futuristic city estimated to costs in excess of $8.8 trillion.
• Neom features a floating industrial complex, global trade hub, tourist resorts.
• The city, which is powered by 100% renewable energy, is plagued by delays and cost overruns.

Neom, an ambitious fusion of architecture and ecology, is a futuristic city under construction in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province. Touted as an unprecedented mega-investment, it serves as a case study for policymakers in Africa, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of large-scale urban development.

According to a recent statement from Neom’s management, the project is set for completion by 2039. The name “Neom” blends the Ancient Greek prefix neo- (meaning “new”) with Mostaqbal, the Arabic word for “future.”

With an estimated cost exceeding $8.8 trillion—over 25 times Saudi Arabia’s annual budget—the new city is among the world’s most ambitious urban projects. Launched in 2017, it spans 26,500 km² and features …