NEOM Project

NEOM Project is a global destination in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, built to be a center for innovation and a different model for sustainable living, following the principles of the new future for cognitive societies that preserve the environment and uplift both people and places. The project is designed, constructed, and managed using an approach liberated from the constraints of old methodologies for economic and environmental infrastructures.

The project is one of the Kingdom's most important initiatives to achieve the Saudi Vision 2030. It is led, funded, and owned 100 percent by the Public Investment Fund, the investment arm and sovereign wealth fund of the government of the Kingdom. The fund has allocated USD500 billion to finance and support the project, in addition to contributions from local and global investors. This investment by the fund is considered a fundamental investment in the future of the Kingdom.

The four most important zones in NEOM are represented by the city of 'The Line,' the advanced industrial city 'Oxagon,' the mountain destination 'Trojena,' and the coastal destination 'Sindalah Island.' The project's stakeholders aim to achieve three main objectives: exceptional living, a thriving business environment, and the reinvention of the concept of sustainability.

The process of naming 'NEOM' began with the identification of the founding board for the NEOM project. All criteria, specifications, and requirements bear a clear and firm vision for selection. The proposed name lists were screened and tested by the consulting team. The list included two thousand names, which was further reduced - as per the standards and requirements - to 150 names, and then reduced again to five names. However, none of them was chosen or agreed upon.

During the founding board discussions, some members considered giving the project the name of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince, prime minister, and chairman of the board of directors of NEOM Co., either directly or by incorporating his name within the project name. As such, two names were suggested: NEOVIA MBS and NMBS, but the opinions of the members were split. Some supported the idea, while others disagreed, believing that HRH being Chairman of NEOM Board of Directors is sufficient to deliver a message to the world that HRH is the founding leader and the main driving force behind the project. They did, however, support the crown prince's principal idea that the name should be neither Eastern nor Western, and also not belong to a specific language or culture, in addition to being open to the entire world.

During the council meetings, words representing the project's sectors and core pillars were chosen. What followed was choosing the initials of those sectors and merging them to obtain a name that preserves the identity of the project, and this resulted in the name NEO MSTACBEL. This word served as the entry point for selecting the name. The word was abbreviated and symbolized by the letter M, meaning Mim in Arabic; it is the first letter of the Arabic word for future (mustaqbal) and also the first letter of the name of HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Then the letter M was merged with the word NEO from the Greek language, which means new. The project is named NEOM, meaning the new future - a name agreed upon unanimously by the board members.

The NEOM Project logo, with its design symbolizing the 'future loop,' consists of five main parts. Each part represents one of the pillars upon which the project is built, namely: technology, nature, community, sustainability, and livability.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince, prime minister, and chairman of the Public Investment Fund, announced the launch of the NEOM Project on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh.

NEOM Co., established in January 2019, oversees the development and construction activities of the NEOM Project. The company transferred its operations from Riyadh to its main headquarters in the project on October 18, 2020. Since its establishment, the company has achieved significant milestones, such as the opening of NEOM Bay Airport, signing initial contracts with national investors to construct a residential area for construction workers accommodating about thirty thousand workers, and signing a contract to build the world's largest environmentally friendly green hydrogen production facility in NEOM with 'Air Products' and 'ACWA Power', valued at over SAR18 billion. Additionally, it has signed two contracts with 'AECOM' and 'Bechtel' for the management and design of one of the world's largest infrastructure projects.

The NEOM Project is located in the northwest of the Kingdom, extending along the coast for 468 km, representing 42.5 percent of the total length of the Kingdom's Red Sea coastline, which reaches 1,100 km. The project overlooks the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba from the west and north and is surrounded by mountains with heights reaching about 2,500 m from the east. The climate in NEOM is moderate, with snow falling on its mountainous heights in winter. It includes a number of deserts and pristine beaches rich in coral reefs and marine life. The project area contains about forty-one islands, the most important of which is Sindalah Island, representing the main island in the project.

One of the key pillars of the NEOM project is its location overlooking the Red Sea, which accounts for 13 percent of global trade movement, connecting three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa. It extends across three countries, as the NEOM project will encompass lands within the borders of Egypt and Jordan. NEOM will also be the main access point for the King Salman Bridge, which connects the continents of Asia and Africa. Remarkably, 40 percent of the world's population can reach NEOM within four hours, while 70 percent can reach it within eight hours.

The NEOM Project includes within its lands a number of ancient civilization relics, as its location represents the heart of the ancient world, such as the civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula, Mesopotamia, the Levant, the Nile, the Greeks, and the Romans. Within NEOM, there is the largest fortress on the Egyptian Hajj route, which is al-Muwaileh Castle located on the Red Sea coast. The area also boasts numerous archaeological artifacts. In the depths of the Red Sea, remnants of a sunken Roman ship, represented by Greek jars (amphorae), have been discovered. Additionally, there are many historical sites that have been visited by various orientalists, including John Petherick, Charles Doughty, Richard Burton, Alois Musil, Frank Holmes, Beno Gutenberg, and John Philby.

Snowfall occurs in NEOM during the winter season on most of its mountainous elevations, particularly al-Lawz Mountain. Al-Lawz Mountain which represents the highest mountain peak in Tabuk Province. It is a tourist destination rich in granite plateaus and rock drawings dating back to around ten thousand years.

The project includes a natural reserve covering an area of approximately 25,000 km². Its goal is to conserve endangered animals within the ecological system, enhance biodiversity, and achieve the objectives of the initiative to propagate endangered wildlife species issued by the National Center for Wildlife under the umbrella of the 'Saudi Green Initiative.'

As part of the program for the relocation of wildlife and in collaboration with the National Center for Wildlife, the first phase of the program was initiated in NEOM. This involved releasing several wild animals into reserves, including the Arabian Oryx, the Nubian Ibex, the Sand Gazelle, and the Mountain Gazelle. This was implemented in December 2022. These animals were transferred from the National Center for Wildlife in Riyadh to the NEOM reserve after preparing designated areas to ensure their gradual adaptation to the new environmental conditions.

NEOM Co., in collaboration with OceanX, conducted an exploration mission in the northern Red Sea. The mission achieved unprecedented scientific discoveries, such as the underwater peak with a height of 635 m, surpassing the height of the Clock Tower in Makkah al-Mukarramah, which stands at 601 m. Additionally, it discovered the world's largest deep-sea saltwater basin and an area of six hundred km² with diverse and attractive sites for biological diversity, including fish and coral reefs. Moreover, the mission documented new settlements of rare coral reefs known for their resilience to climate change. It conducted detailed surveys of three unexplored islands and discovered three marine sites along with the wreckage of ancient ships.

The mission documented the presence of twelve species of large organisms in the waters of NEOM, including sharks, whales, dugongs, turtles, and dolphins. It identified 341 fish species, including eight new species, sixty-eight resident species, and eighteen rare and globally threatened species.

The mission's team consisted of thirty global researchers and ocean scientists, including eleven experts from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), four experts from NEOM, five others from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. Additionally, five explorers from National Geographic were part of the team. The mission's research work underwater took 960 hours, including high-resolution 3D mapping covering an area exceeding 1,500 km² of the Red Sea floor.

The Coral Garden of Shusha Island, the world's largest coral garden, was established by NEOM Co. in partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Shusha Island, affiliated with Tabuk Province, is located northwest of the Kingdom, at the intersection of latitude 27° 55' 48" N and longitude 34° 54' 05" E. It covers an area of one km² (one hundred ha) and is approximately 8.20 NM away from the coast. It is planned to be inaugurated in 2025.

Shusha Coral Island hosts habitats for many marine organisms, with over one thousand species of fish and three hundred species of coral. Shusha Coral Garden will provide a unique opportunity for research and development to conserve coral reefs and attract scientists and researchers. The new coral reef farms will also be the world's first and largest repository for marine organisms living in the Red Sea. The (Maritechture) technology, developed by scientists from the Red Sea Research Center and the Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab at KAUST, is planned to be used initially on the shoreline coral reefs and later on the coral gardens surrounding the island.

The NEOM Project adopted an initiative focused on plant cover and sustainable development, aiming to restore the local natural environment by providing sustainable solutions like afforestation, relying on clean energy, and addressing global environmental challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Launched on May 29, 2022, in collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the initiative aims to plant one hundred million diverse local trees, rehabilitate 1.5 million ha of land and natural reserves, and restore wildlife habitats in NEOM.

NEOM preserves 95 percent of its area as a natural reserve, turning it into a laboratory for developing and discovering environmental solutions to conserve natural resources and revive green spaces. In partnership with local and international research institutions, NEOM seeks to innovate technologies and sustainable solutions to protect the environment, enhance afforestation efficiency, reduce water consumption, and address global environmental challenges.

The Regreening Initiative was announced during the events of the International Exhibition & Forum for Afforestation Technologies, organized by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. The initiative aims to sustain the vegetation cover by repairing and rehabilitating environmentally damaged sites, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, and supporting the 'Saudi Green' and 'Middle East Green' initiatives launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, crown prince and prime minister.

The NEOM Airport is the first of its kind in the Middle East, incorporating fifth-generation (5G) technology.It enjoys a strategic logistical location at the crossroads of three countries: the Kingdom, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Arab Republic of Egyptand 40 percent of the world's population can reach it in less than four hours. It ranks twenty-eighth in the latest series of the Kingdom's airports in terms of establishment.

NEOM Bay Airport is located in Sharma area in Tabuk Province, north of the Kingdom. Named 'NEOM Airport,' it is an international commercial airport established to enhance NEOM's status and support the project as a major travel destination in the Kingdom. The total area of the airport is approximately 3,643 m², and it includes several facilities, such as a runway with a length of about 3,757 m, four counters for passenger check-in, six aircraft stands, and parking spaces accommodating one hundred cars.

The first chartered flight to NEOM Airport via Saudia took off on January 10, 2019. It carried around 130 NEOM employees on two commercial Airbus (A320) planes for their annual meeting. This marked their first official visit to NEOM.

On June 25, 2019, the General Authority of Civil Aviation announced the opening of the NEOM Bay Airport and its licensing as a commercial airport after the completion of development works for its first phase. It was registered with the code 'NUM' by the International Air Transport Association (IATA),and the first Saudia Airlines flight to NEOM Airport was operated on June 30, 2019. 

NEOM announced on May 23, 2022, the operation of direct international flights from NEOM Bay Airport to several destinations. At the end of June 2022, weekly flights to Dubai began, with plans to operate direct flights to London and add other international destinations. Saudia adorned one of its aircraft, flying around the world, with a design that combines the national carrier's logo with the identity of NEOM, to globally showcase the project.

The communities in the NEOM Project are interconnected, and daily needs can be met by walking or cycling due to the proximity between them. There are no conventional vehicles or roads, as NEOM is establishing a sustainable and integrated transportation system based on autonomous means. NEOM aims to be the world's first region with zero carbon emissions, operating on 100 percent renewable energy. Transportation within NEOM relies on vertical vehicles powered by electricity.

In partnership with Volocopter, NEOM Co. has established a company for the design, execution, and operation of the first public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) network. This new company will be the sole operator for the initial public transportation routes in NEOM, working on enabling the eVTOL system, which is a system for electric take-off and landing services, integrating it with the transportation systems and infrastructure of the NEOM region. It aims to provide vertical mobility services, logistics services, and transportation for tourism purposes and emergencies.

Volocopter and NEOM have agreed on an initial order of ten VoloCity passenger aircraft and five VoloDrone logistics aircraft to support the early operations of the aviation services.

NEOM is working to establish a system that is the first of its kind globally in water and energy sustainability. In line with this, NEOM announced the launch of NEOM Energy and Water Company (ENOWA), aiming to support all NEOM facilities with 100 percent renewable energy, becoming a distinctive mark in integrated and sustainable systems for energy, water, and hydrogen.

ENOWA is working on establishing a range of programs and projects, utilizing the best technologies and innovations to address global challenges. Among its projects is the world's largest green hydrogen production facility, in partnership with Air Products and ACWA Power.

The company aims to provide low-cost potable water for both residents and businesses, establishing desalination plants that operate with 100 percent renewable energy and ensure no harmful waste discharge into the sea. It also aims to provide drinkable mineral water and leverage the extracted brine solution from seawater to produce valuable industrial materials such as industrial salt, magnesium, and potassium, which can be efficiently sold commercially.

NEOM signed an agreement with 'SolarWater Limited' to establish the first desalination plant using 'solar dome' technology in the northwest of the Kingdom. The plant will utilize solar energy technology to produce low-cost, environmentally friendly freshwater. This plant is the first of its kind, entirely sustainable, and 100 percent carbon-neutral. Its production cost is significantly lower than traditional reverse osmosis desalination plants, as the cost of water production using solar dome technology is estimated at around USD0.34 (SAR1.27) per m³ of water.

Relying on innovative technologies, research, and education, NEOM has announced the design of a comprehensive healthcare system entirely based on digitization and available at any time. Additionally, they are developing a medical system called 'Dr. NEOM,' which collects health data for the population and predicts their health issues before they arise. By connecting residents with virtual doctors and therapists, conducting necessary diagnoses promptly. NEOM has also worked on providing a 'Digital Twin' platform, which enables residents to monitor their health more efficiently and effectively.

NEOM will lead in genetic sciences as its healthcare system will be based on artificial intelligence and data science grounded in genomics and genetics. Consequently, it aims to establish an advanced model for healthcare through detailed diagnostic and comprehensive processes that primarily focus on individual requirements.

NEOM Co. has launched a joint project in collaboration with ACWA Power and Air Products, known as the Green Hydrogen Project. The agreement for this project was signed on July 7, 2020.It aims to achieve the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, diversifying the sources of income for the local economy without relying on oil and natural gas by establishing the world's largest factory for the production and generation of green hydrogen, with a production capacity reaching approximately 1.2 million t annually of green ammonia by 2026. It aims to generate over four GW of electricity through renewable energy derived from solar and wind power, along with storage capabilities. The project aims to produce around 650 t of green hydrogen daily, contributing to climate change mitigation and increasing employment opportunities. Green hydrogen is used as a green feedstock for several manufacturing industries, such as cement, steel, and fertilizer production, or as a fuel source for various modes of transportation and power stations. It also serves as the foundation for green chemicals, circular carbon economy, and green fuels.

The media sector is a crucial element in the development of NEOM, forming part of the creative industry through the establishment of modern and advanced infrastructure. NEOM aims to create a global center dedicated to television production and focuses on the development of electronic games and digital publishing, leveraging advanced technologies, tools, and equipment.

The events of the second season of the Saudi series 'Future's Folktales' unfolded in the NEOM region using the anime (Japanese animation) style. This came after the announcement of a collaboration agreement between the Manga Productions company, a subsidiary of the Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (Misk), and NEOM Co. The goal was to promote Saudi culture worldwide, introduce it to other nations, and engage an ambitious generation in contributing to the development and growth of NEOM. Manga Productions initiated a global competition to showcase local and international creative talents, inviting creators to submit imaginative designs for the NEOM Project. The selected designs were then featured in episodes of the series.

The first season of the series was broadcast on numerous channels and platforms in several countries, including Japan, China, Taiwan, and the United States. It aired on more than nineteen platforms and channels, accumulating over seventy million views. The series presents traditional Saudi heritage tales that have been passed down among people on the Arabian Peninsula. It aims to connect children with values, ethics, and Arab heritage while also raising awareness about future technologies.

In partnership with the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, NEOM Co. launched the NEOM Digital Media Training Academy initiative on June 14, 2021. The initiative aims to provide a conducive environment for the latest technologies and best international standards in the field of media. It focuses on developing the skills of future media professionals, refining their experiences, particularly in video content creation and production, and distributing local content on digital platforms. Additionally, the program offers employment opportunities for its graduates across various specializations.

NEOM Co., in collaboration with MBC Group, launched the first AAA games development studio of high quality and value in the Middle East. This is part of NEOM's efforts to establish a regional hub for media production and creative content. The studio aims to generate unique, high-quality content by offering state-of-the-art private studios tailored for the development of electronic games, audio recording, facilities for capturing kinetic and visual effects, zones for educational and training in the skills for this sector, and incubators for emerging businesses in this field.

The NEOM Media Village and Bajdah Desert Studios, located west of Tabuk and distinguished by their mountain formations, sands, as well as engravings and historical artifacts, have successfully supported twenty-five television and cinematic productions during their eighteen-month trial operation period. NEOM announced a financial incentive program with a refund rate of up to 40 percent to support film and television production, including drama, reality TV, documentary programs, and commercial advertisements.

In 2021, NEOM hosted approximately twenty major international productions. Among them were the historical film 'Desert Warrior,' directed by Rupert Wyatt, filmed in the new NEOM City and Tabuk, and the drama-crime film 'Cherry' directed by the Russo brothers, which was shot in al-Ula and Riyadh.

On September 14, 2022, the official opening of NEOM Media Village and the Bajdah Desert Studios took place. An international production team was assembled to meet the needs and requirements of producers and crews. The NEOM Village and Bajdah Desert Studios feature the largest sound studios and film production support facilities in Saudi Arabia. Three sound studios have been operational to meet the demand from regional and international productions for state-of-the-art film facilities. The first studio is in the NEOM Media Village, a model sound studio available for production with an area of approximately 2,400 m². It includes facilities such as makeup rooms, green rooms, and production offices. Work is underway to build three more high-tech studios. The second and third studios are located in the Bajdah Studios and are both dome-shaped sound studios with an area of three thousand m².

The NEOM Media Village studios and Bajdah Desert Studios will feature numerous world-class production facilities, including permanent production offices, warehouses for sets, accessories, and costumes, audio and sound effects facilities. Additionally, the studios will be equipped with cameras, lighting equipment, heavy-duty drone units, cranes, and lifts. The complex will also offer 350 residential units with integrated services for actors and crew members.

NEOM organized the global sports event, the 'Beach Games 2022,' starting on October 19, 2022, and it continued until December 9, 2022. More than twenty-five countries participated in the competition across five sports, including kitesurfing, beach soccer, 3x3 basketball, mountain biking, and triathlon.

The Beach Games featured various competitions, starting with the 'GKA' free kitesurfing world cup over the first five days, from October 19 to 23. This was followed by the Olympic triathlon competition on October 29. In November, the international 3x3 basketball tournament 'Super Quest' took place, followed by the beach soccer championship, where twelve teams from around the world competed over five days. The event was concluded on December 9 with the desert race and mountain biking, involving 220 male and female participants from across the globe in a three-stage race through the vast beaches and deserts of NEOM, with each stage spanning from eighty to 120 km.

On October 4, 2022, during the forty-first General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia held in Cambodia, it was announced that the Kingdom won the bid to host the ninth edition of the Asian Winter Games in 2029. The event will take place in the city of Trojena, a global mountain tourism destination in NEOM. This marks the first time a city in western Asia has been awarded the hosting rights for the Asian Winter Games, following a request from the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. The Winter Asian Games is a globally recognized multi-sport event. Its inaugural edition took place in 1986 and was hosted by Japan, China, South Korea, and Kazakhstan.

NEOM, the global partner of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) tournaments, contributes to nurturing the next generation of sports talents in the Kingdom, providing them with necessary support, and offering opportunities to develop their football skills. NEOM officially announced the launch of its program 'Shuhub,' the first football program within NEOM, implemented in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Tabuk. Over four hundred children from across the Kingdom participated after the pilot launch at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. This is a community sports program focusing on the next generation of players in the Kingdom, aged between seven and twelve, aiming to enhance their skills, regardless of their abilities, and promote their involvement in football programs.

The program aims to create a kind of integration between sports and technology to measure and develop the level of participating children, especially in terms of football skills such as shooting accuracy, dribbling speed, reaction time, and passing precision. It seeks to maximize the benefits of the world-class training provided by the coaches of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).

NEOM Co. and AFC announced a global partnership agreement, with NEOM becoming the global partner of the AFC for a period of four years from 2021 to 2024. The partnership includes various elements such as national team championships and competitions within the AFC, including the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, featuring the top twelve football teams in the Asian continent, major national team competitions in Asia, sponsorship of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup, the June 2023 AFC Asian Cup, and Asian club competitions until the end of the 2024 season.

As part of the Quality of Life program initiatives, NEOM hosted the first round of the second season of the global 'Extreme E' races for electric off-road vehicles on February 19 and 20, 2022. The event showcased the city's geographical diversity, vast deserts, distinctive rock formations, and its leading role in alternative energy. The competition aims to encourage the use of electric vehicles to support environmental conservation efforts. The race consists of five rounds around the world, with the participation of ten teams, represented by twenty racers.

It is a project to redefine the concept of mountain tourism into a global eco-friendly tourism. It was announced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, crown prince, prime minister, and chairman of the board of directors of NEOM Co., on March 3, 2022. The project is expected to be completed by 2026. The project is expected to provide more than ten thousand jobs, contribute an additional SAR3 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030, construct around 2,200 residential units, 3,600 hotel rooms and apartments, attract more than seven hundred thousand tourists, and bring in approximately seven thousand residents to Trojena and the surrounding areas.

The Trojena Project is located in the heart of NEOM, about fifty km from the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. It is near three international airports: NEOM Bay Airport, Tabuk International Airport, and King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba. In fact, 40 percent of the world's population can reach the project within four hours by air from their location. The project spans an area of 60 km², with approximately 42,000 m² dedicated to restaurants and retail spaces.

The Trojena Project comprises six entertainment districts, including the 'Fun' village for ice skiing. This high-altitude village stands out with its open slopes, allowing visitors to experience outdoor snow skiing. It offers a unique skiing experience in the Kingdom.  The 'Relax' District is a distinguished resort for health and wellness activities amidst a variety of natural landscapes. The 'Explore' District is a secluded area that allows enhanced interactive experiences in a pristine natural environment, including long hiking trails and numerous excursions. The 'Discover' District is an observatory for stargazing and observing galaxies located on the edge of the cliff, offering visitors the experience of living among the clouds and enjoying a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountainous landscapes. The 'Gateway' District, also known as 'The Volt,' is a village at the heart of the mountains, vertically built using the latest technologies and entertainment and hospitality means. It serves as the main entrance to 'Trojena.' The 'Valley' District is a lake stretching for 2.8 km, containing a variety of expeditions, such as the enchanted forest and the building 'The Bow.' It enables visitors to engage in exciting water and sports activities.

The Trojena Project will host a variety of events and festivals throughout the year across multiple seasons, including the Adventure Season, hosting a triathlon, mountain biking, and paragliding; the Lake Season, including the cultural week, artistic exhibitions, and a food festival; the Wellness Season for health renewal and yoga through a dedicated resort; and the Winter Season, including the winter fashion week, ice skating, and slopes spanning approximately thirty km. In addition to housing 'The Bow' building located beneath the lake, it is equipped to host international events, conferences, concerts, and art exhibitions. It has the 'Slope Residences,' the residential complex located near the ski village overlooking the lake. In addition to international hotels, luxurious palaces, chalets, and villas are available in the ski village, on top of the slopes, the lake village, the water village, The Volt, and the golf course.

It is a project to build a city for millions of people, with a new concept for sustainable urban development, announced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, crown prince, prime minister, and chairman of the board of directors of NEOM Co., on January 10, 2021, while its designs were announced on July 25, 2022. Its development work began in the first quarter of 2021. By 2030, it will be capable of contributing SAR180 billion to the GDP and providing jobs for 380,000 workers.

Geographically, The Line is situated in the northwest of the Kingdom, at the edge of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. As a result, it oversees 13 percent of global trade movement, and 40 percent of the world's population can access it within four hours by air from their locations. It is surrounded by nature on all sides, preserving 95 percent of the pristine nature of the NEOM City. Its formation consists of four natural regions: the coast, the coastal desert, mountains, and elevated valleys.

The Line covers an area of approximately thirty-four km², built in the form of vertical layers, with a height of five hundred m above sea level, a width of two hundred m, and a length of 170 km. Residents can move in three directions (upwards, downwards, and horizontally). The Line contributes to enhancing the quality of life by operating all city facilities with 100 percent clean energy, being free of streets and cars, having zero carbon emissions, and providing smart transportation options and access to facilities and services within a five-minute walk, and two minutes for direct access to natural areas, in addition, there is a high-speed train available that connects the outskirts of the city within twenty minutes. The Line incorporates modern methods of agriculture, food production, and healthcare. Additionally, it provides 'digital air,' which refers to free high-speed internet networks, and offers online education to the highest global standards.

It is one of the projects supporting the national tourism strategy and is the first maritime tourism destination in NEOM. Designed to become a major gateway for maritime trips in the Red Sea, it aims to offer a global experience in hospitality and entertainment. The announcement was made by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, crown prince, prime minister, and chairman of the board of directors of NEOM Co., on December 5, 2022. The island is expected to welcome visitors in early 2024.

Sindalah Coral Island is located at the northern tip of the Red Sea, administratively affiliated with Tabuk Province. It is approximately 1.8 km long, covering an area of about 0.03 km². It serves as an extension of Umm Ruwais Island, stretching longitudinally from the northeast to the southwest. The island widens from the northeast and southwest, narrowing in the middle. It is surrounded by coral reefs on all sides, situated in its center, with a flat surface, not exceeding one m in height. Some of its coastlines form edges and rocky cliffs, and it is situated about 2.6 nm away from the coast.

The Sindalah Island Project includes approximately 413 hotel rooms with international specifications, 333 hotel apartments, a luxurious beach club, a yacht club, and global restaurants and stores. It features a vibrant marina with eighty-six maritime docks capable of accommodating large boats and yachts. Additionally, the project includes two international golf courses.

The NEOM Industrial City or Oxagon serves as the economic and industrial engine for NEOM. It is the world's largest floating industrial complex, located in NEOM, northwest of the Kingdom on the Red Sea coast. It is distinguished by its strategic location, ensuring local, regional, and global accessibility. The aim is to establish a true circular economy. The announcement of its establishment was made by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, crown prince, prime minister, and chairman of the board of directors of NEOM Co., on November 16, 2021.

Oxagon relies on seven primary sectors in industrial development, all supported by 100 percent renewable energy. These sectors include sustainable energy, independent mobility, innovation in water solutions, sustainable food production, health and well-being, technology and digital manufacturing, and modern construction methods.

Oxagon will include the world's largest floating structure andthe first integrated logistics services center housing most of the population of the industrial city It will also feature the world's largest green hydrogen project, relying on desalinated water produced by clean energy and electricity. The complex will have an automated port, the first of its kind with a capacity of 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). Additionally, it will house an institute for marine sciences and research, as well as advanced robots used in space science, food production, health, and well-being.Oxagon will be car-free, relying on clean energy, and is expected to provide around seventy thousand jobs by 2030. Its inhabitants will primarily use walking for transportation, and estimates project a population of around ninety thousand by 2030. Otherwise, residents will rely on hydrogen-powered transportation. Moreover, Oxagon is working on developing the world's first fully integrated supply chain to offer innovative logistic solutions focused on clients within and outside NEOM.