Neom appears to be progressing steadily, despite some recent questions about its execution.
In the past month, two somewhat contradictory reports emerged regarding Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Neom project and The Line, its linear smart city. On one hand, influencers living in Neom encourage people to visit, although the area resembles an industrial park. On the other, the project seems to be making significant progress, but it’s consuming 20% of the world’s steel supply. Now, Neom has officially completed its first phase.
The news. Designed by Italian studio Luca Dini Design and situated three miles off the coast of Neom, Saudi Arabia unveiled Sindalah, the first completed region (of the 10 planned) within the futuristic megacity. Sindalah is an artificial reef—an island covering over 9 million square feet. Based on the images so far, its purpose is clear: luxury. Featuring an 86-berth marina for yachts along with hotels, beach clubs, and golf facilities, the Saudi Arabian Miami is already a reality.
The numbers. According to Dezeen, Neom CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr emphasized that Sindalah embodies the ambition to transform luxury tourism in the region as part of Vision 2030, a plan to diversify the economy and move it away from fossil fuels. “The realization of this landmark destination, the gateway to the Red Sea, is due to the visionary leadership of His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Vision 2030,” he said.
The island has 440 rooms, 88 villas, and 200 apartments. By 2028, the project aims to welcome up to 2,400 visitors daily.
Luxury, luxury, and more luxury. As the image shows, Sindalah is an exclusive destination for the world’s wealthiest, focusing on high-end tourism along the Red Sea. It will include a yacht club designed by Italian fashion brand Stefano Ricci, along with luxury shops and yacht management services, offering “a luxurious and personalized experience for visitors, with a focus on comfort and exclusivity.”
The Luxury Collection will operate a resort and hotel, with Autograph Collection managing another hotel. In addition, the Four Seasons plans to open a location, too. Reasonable doubts remain as to how many more such developments can fit within the island’s space.
Controversy. According to Dezeen, despite Neom’s openness, the project has faced significant international criticism for alleged human rights abuses during construction, particularly with accusations of forced evictions of the Huwaitat tribe. Reports even include death sentences for three tribe members. These concerns have ignited debates in architectural and human rights circles, questioning the ethics of participating in the project.
Many architects have spoken out, asking whether it’s ethical to work on a project that raises serious questions about fundamental rights.
More doubts. In recent months, news about the project has been far from what you might expect for something of this scale. In June, the project seemed to be falling apart. Later, the BBC reported that Saudi authorities had authorized lethal force against local villagers resisting eviction orders for the mega construction. According to the report, one person was fatally shot after protesting.
A few weeks ago, The Wall Street Journal published an exclusive article detailing the internal chaos within the massive investment project, with claims of executive infighting, as well as allegations of racism, misogyny, and corruption. In one instance, the Journal reported that an executive dismissed concerns over worker deaths, reportedly complaining, “a whole bunch of people die, so we’ve got to have a meeting on a Sunday night.” This executive is no longer with the project.
Images | Neom
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