NEOM is Happening! Construction Update

Summary

The video provides an update on Saudi Arabia's ambitious Neom projects, including The Line, Trojena, Sindalah, and Oxagon. The Line, a futuristic linear city, has seen significant progress, with infrastructure and excavation work underway. Trojena, a luxury winter destination, is racing against a 2029 deadline for the Asian Winter Games, despite concerns about its feasibility in a desert environment. Sindalah, a luxury resort island, is on track for a 2024 opening, while Oxagon, a floating industrial city, remains the least developed. Despite challenges, Saudi Arabia is determined to transform these visionary projects into reality.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Line is a futuristic megacity in Saudi Arabia, stretching over 100 kilometers and designed to be car-free, road-free, and have zero emissions.
• 😀 As of the latest reports, 20% of the infrastructure for The Line is complete, including essential roads, offices, and logistics hubs.
• 😀 Excavation work for The Line’s Hidden Marina, the largest in the world, is progressing, with up to 1 million cubic meters of earth being moved weekly.
• 😀 The Line faces criticisms for its massive carbon footprint, which is estimated to be equivalent to more than four times the UK’s annual emissions.
• 😀 Human rights concerns are raised regarding forced evictions of residents, with some protesters facing imprisonment and even death sentences.
• 😀 Trojena, located in the mountains, is planned as a luxury ski resort to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, despite challenges with snow production and water use.
• 😀 Over 1.6 million cubic meters of material have already been excavated for Trojena’s man-made lake, and a vertical village called 'The Vault' is under construction.
• 😀 Trojena’s luxury hospitality partners, including Ennismore and Minor Hotels, are building high-end resorts as part of the development.
• 😀 Sindalah, a luxury island resort within Neom, is set to open in 2024 and will feature an 86-berth marina, luxury hotels, and a golf course.
• 😀 Oxagon, a floating industrial port city, will serve as the business and industrial heart of Neom, with the first terminal set to open by 2025.
• 😀 While significant progress is being made on Sindalah, Oxagon has shown limited development, with much of the work still in early stages.

Q & A

What is Neom and what is its overarching goal?

Neom is a futuristic megacity being developed in Saudi Arabia, designed to showcase sustainability, advanced technology, and a reimagined urban lifestyle. Its goal is to create a self-sustaining city with zero cars, zero roads, and zero emissions, offering a vision of the future unlike any other city.

What are the main projects within Neom and what are their purposes?

The four major projects within Neom are The Line, Trojena, Sindalah, and Oxagon. The Line aims to be a sustainable linear city, Trojena will be a luxury winter resort, Sindalah is a high-end island resort, and Oxagon is an industrial port city focusing on logistics and green energy.

What progress has been made on The Line's construction so far?

As of 2023, 20% of The Line’s vital infrastructure, such as roads, offices, and logistics hubs, has been completed. Excavation work is progressing, and over 4,500 piles have been installed for the main structure. Additionally, work on the Hidden Marina, which is set to become the world’s largest marina, is well underway.

How is the construction of The Line being funded?

The construction of The Line is primarily funded by Saudi Arabia’s **Public Investment Fund (PIF)**, which is directly controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The total investment for the project is estimated to be **$700 billion**.

What criticisms have been raised against The Line project?

Critics have raised concerns about the sustainability of The Line, particularly due to the estimated carbon footprint of its construction, which could result in **1.8 gigatonnes of CO2** emissions. Additionally, there have been human rights concerns, with reports of forced relocations and violent crackdowns on protesters.

What is the purpose of Trojena, and what progress has been made on its construction?

Trojena is planned to be a luxury ski resort in Saudi Arabia’s mountains, set to open for the **2029 Asian Winter Games**. Excavation has begun, with over **1.6 million cubic meters** of material moved to prepare for a man-made lake and the ski village. Foundation work for the resort is also progressing.

How will Trojena address the challenge of creating a winter resort in a desert environment?

Trojena will rely on **artificial snow machines** powered by desalinated seawater from the Red Sea. However, concerns have been raised about the sustainability of such a project, as it requires large amounts of water and electricity.

What is Sindalah, and how far along is its construction?

Sindalah is a luxury island resort located off Neom’s coast. It will feature a marina, golf course, and high-end hotels. Construction is progressing rapidly, with roads and building foundations already in place. The resort is scheduled to open in **2024**.

How does the success of Sindalah impact the wider Neom project?

Sindalah is the first Neom project to open, and its success is crucial for showcasing the vision of Neom to the world. It will provide a preview of Neom’s futuristic urban environment, potentially influencing future investments in other Neom developments.

What is Oxagon, and what role does it play within Neom?

Oxagon is a floating industrial city located on Saudi Arabia’s west coast. It will serve as the industrial and business hub of Neom, focusing on green energy and logistics. It will also have residential, entertainment, and tourism districts, making it a self-sustaining city. The first terminal of the Port of Neom is expected to open by **2025**.

What is the current status of Oxagon's construction?

Oxagon's construction is currently slower than the other Neom projects. Limited progress has been made, and satellite images show that some infrastructure has been built around the Port of Neom. However, the development of Oxagon is still in the early stages compared to the other projects.