If You're Listening NEOM: The world's dumbest megaproject
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Dec 31, 2025 Explore the audacious and surreal vision behind NEOM and its centerpiece, The Line, a car-free city meant for nine million residents. Despite high hopes, the project's scope has shrunk dramatically, raising questions about its viability. Delve into Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious plans and the political ramifications of this megaproject. Discover the striking contrast between lofty science fiction designs and the harsh realities of life within The Line, as well as local displacement issues revealing the deeper stakes at play.
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Wild Sci‑Fi Vision For A Mega City
- NEOM was pitched as a 170 km, car-free linear city for 9 million people with AI-managed services and trains below a service layer.
- The vision combined extreme scale and sci-fi features like mirrored walls, an island resort and a desert ski slope.
NEOM As A Strategic Economic Pivot
- Mohammed bin Salman launched NEOM as part of a push to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy and attract global business.
- He framed NEOM as a roadmap for a new era to shift the region's economic centre from Dubai to Saudi Arabia.
History Of Failed Mega‑City Attempts
- NEOM echoes earlier GCC attempts to build brand‑new cities like King Abdullah Economic City, which remains tiny compared to projections.
- Many such projects became ghost towns because the economic base and jobs never materialised.