When Saudi Arabia unveiled NEOM in 2017, it promised nothing short of a city from the future. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presented the mega-project as the centrepiece of the kingdom's Vision 2030 strategy to reduce dependence on oil. The plans included flying taxis, robot assistants, a 170-kilometre-long mirrored skyscraper known as The Line, a desert ski resort and a floating industrial city. Initially backed by a $500 billion commitment, later internal estimates reportedly put the cost of fully realising the vision at around $8.8 trillion. Nearly a decade later, however, rising costs, lower oil revenues and shifting priorities have forced Saudi Arabia to slow down and rethink parts of its futuristic dream.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
