How NEOM Is Designing the Future of Cities

NEOM is one of the most ambitious urban development initiatives in the world today. Announced in 2017 as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, NEOM spans 26,500 square kilometers in the country's northwest and is backed by the Public Investment Fund with an estimated cost of $500 billion.

More than a city, NEOM is a collection of interconnected regions, each designed to pioneer future-forward living, sustainability, and digital infrastructure.

What Is NEOM?

NEOM is being constructed as a group of specialized developments that integrate smart technology and ecological design. These include:

• The Line: A linear city stretching 170 km with no cars or streets, powered entirely by renewable energy and designed to preserve 95% of surrounding nature. Vertical layers for living, working, and mobility aim to reduce urban sprawl and increase walkability.

• Oxagon: A floating industrial district that combines advanced manufacturing with AI, robotics, and clean energy. It is set to become a hub for Industry 4.0 technologies and logistics.

• Trojena: A mountain tourism destination that will include outdoor adventure sports, a ski resort, and luxury hospitality—an unusual concept for the Middle East.

• Sindalah, Epicon, and Leyja: Coastal resort areas designed for luxury tourism and wellness experiences.

These developments are supported by additional conceptual communities like Aquellum (a subterranean “inverted skyscraper”) and Siranna, each exploring different modes of futuristic living.

How It Works

NEOM functions as a special economic zone with its own regulatory and legal framework to attract global talent and investment. Construction is being rolled out in phases. Sindalah opened to visitors in early 2024, while foundational infrastructure is underway in The Line and Oxagon.

Multiple subsidiaries manage specific sectors within NEOM: Enowa for energy, Tonomus for digital infrastructure, and NEOM Media Village for film and entertainment. The project emphasizes green energy—particularly solar and hydrogen—as well as AI-powered urban management and prefabricated building techniques to minimize environmental disruption.

A New Model for Urban Life

NEOM is built around the concept of “cognitive urbanism”—cities that learn and adapt in real time using data, sensors, and digital twins. It is designed to be not just sustainable but intelligent: a city that anticipates needs, reduces waste, and enhances daily life through automation and integration.

Saudi officials position NEOM as a template for cities of the future, addressing global challenges like climate change, overpopulation, and resource depletion.

Why It Matters

As a cornerstone of Vision 2030, NEOM reflects Saudi Arabia’s effort to diversify its economy and reposition itself as a global hub for innovation and tourism. The project aims to contribute $48 billion to the country’s GDP and create an estimated 460,000 jobs by the end of the decade.

Yet, NEOM has also attracted scrutiny. Critics have questioned the feasibility of its timelines, the massive cost, and concerns over forced relocations and surveillance technologies. Its success could either validate or challenge the global appetite for building tech-centric cities from the ground up.