Neom Project Undergoes Significant Scale-Down Amid Delays and Budget Issues
Saudi Arabia's Neom project, initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017, has faced major setbacks, leading to a redesign after years of delays and rising costs. Originally planned as a 17-mile-long climate-neutral city called The Line, the project aimed to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and included an industrial zone.
Recent reports indicate that the scope of The Line will be significantly reduced, with plans to utilize existing infrastructure differently. The ski resort Trojena will no longer host the winter games as initially intended.
The focus may shift towards constructing data centers to establish leadership in AI, attributed to high government spending and declining oil prices. Project work halted in 2024 following the resignation of CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr, with a review expected to conclude in spring 2025. However, officials in Riyadh view these changes as a capability to adjust goals rather than a failure.
