Saudi Arabia’s goin sicko mode on its sci-fi city-state

Summary

Saudi Arabia's ambitious Neom project, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to build a futuristic eco-region in the desert. The plan includes innovative features like a ski resort, a horizontal city, and an artificial moon. However, the project's feasibility and impact on the environment and local communities raise concerns amidst its high costs and potential for becoming a playground for the wealthy.

Takeaways

• 🏜️ Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in creating Neom, a futuristic eco region in the desert, aiming to be a hub for business and technology.
• 🌐 Neom is designed to be a collection of distinct regions with unique features, each defying traditional science and architecture.
• 🏔️ Among Neom's features are Oxagon, a floating structure, Trojena, a mountain destination, and Aquellum, built inside a mountain.
• 📏 'The Line' is a city concept in Neom that is 200 meters wide, 500 meters high, and 170 kilometers long.
• 🤖 The city plans include futuristic elements like a robot dinosaur park, a giant artificial moon, and schools with holographic teachers.
• 🚀 Neom is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, an economic plan to diversify from oil dependence led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
• 🌍 The project aims to attract foreign investment by creating a business-friendly environment with corporate laws separate from Saudi Arabia's legal system.
• 💡 The concept of Neom reflects a broader trend towards creating economic zones that prioritize investor returns over democratic politics.
• 🏗️ Despite ambitious plans, actual construction has begun in only a few areas, with significant downsizing of initial goals.
• 💰 The estimated cost of Neom has ballooned from $320 billion to $500 billion, with concerns about whether the investment will pay off.
• 🤔 There are ethical concerns about the displacement of native populations and the use of the region for primarily luxury and high-end developments.

Q & A

What is Neom and why is it significant?

Neom is a futuristic eco region being built in the desert of Saudi Arabia, billed as the future of human-centered urban living. It is significant as it represents a major construction project and a key part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, aiming to diversify the economy away from oil dependence.

What is the concept behind the city called 'The Line' in Neom?

The Line is a city within Neom that is designed to be 200 meters wide and 170 kilometers long, featuring a horizontal, sprawling megalopolis. It is an egalitarian plan where everyone in the city will have a similar commute time, and it includes various innovative features like robot dinosaur parks and a giant artificial moon.

What is Vision 2030 and how does Neom fit into it?

Vision 2030 is an economic plan by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the kingdom's economy away from oil dependence by investing in various sectors including technology, green energy, and futuristic cities like Neom.

What are some of the unique features planned for Neom?

Neom plans to include a ski resort in the desert, a horizontal city called 'The Line', an upside-down skyscraper in a mountain, a beach with glow-in-the-dark sand, schools with holographic teachers, and a metaverse platform for crypto and NFT trading, among other futuristic elements.

How is Neom being funded and what is the estimated cost?

Neom is being funded by the wealth generated from Saudi Arabia's oil industry. The initial phase was expected to cost about $320 billion by 2030, but current estimates suggest it could cost up to $500 billion or more.

What is the criticism regarding the implementation of Neom?

Critics argue that Neom's implementation is facing challenges such as high costs, downsizing of initial plans, and potential displacement of native populations. There are also concerns about whether the ambitious sci-fi vision can be realistically achieved.

What is the role of private cities within the context of Neom?

Private cities within Neom, like 'The Line', are being positioned as investment opportunities similar to companies, with their own set of laws separate from Saudi Arabia, making them attractive to global investors looking for free trade zones and tax havens.

How does the concept of Neom relate to the broader trend of economic zones?

Neom is part of a trend towards creating small economic zones that prioritize corporate-friendly laws and investor returns over democratic politics. These zones are seen as high-growth areas attracting foreign investment.

What are the potential ethical concerns with the construction of Neom?

Ethical concerns include the displacement and eviction of native populations, the murder of a tribal leader who protested eviction, and the prioritization of investor interests over democratic rights.

How does the script compare Neom to Silicon Valley's approach to startups?

The script compares Neom to Silicon Valley startups by highlighting the emphasis on big ideas and attracting investors, with the actual execution and realization of those ideas being secondary or figured out later.

What is the satirical element in the script regarding New Jersey and Cristiano Ronaldo?

The script includes a satirical announcement about New Jersey being exchanged for Cristiano Ronaldo as part of a deal between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, which is clearly a humorous and fictional scenario to add levity to the discussion.