On the vast desert and Red Sea coast of northwestern Saudi Arabia, a project that can be considered the most ambitious in the history of human urban construction is underway - NEOM, the highly anticipated "city of the future" that has attracted global attention since its inception.

What is NEOM?

NEOM is Saudi Arabia's proposed "City of the Future" with a total investment of $500 billion, aiming to create a zero carbon, ultra smart city that includes multiple distinctive projects such as the 170 kilometer linear city The Line, the luxurious Red Sea resort Sindalah, the desert ski resort Trojena, and the floating industrial city Oxagon. Although this project may sound like a cyberpunk movie, it is indeed under construction.

Where has it been built now?

At present, The Line has started construction, and aerial photography shows some basic structures; Sindalah is partially completed and is expected to open by the end of 2025; Trojena will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games; Oxagon is still in the planning stage, and the overall actual completion rate is much lower than expected, less than 1%.

Why is it obstructed?

There are many reasons for the obstruction of the NEOM project. In terms of funding, the cost has skyrocketed from 500 billion to 8.8 trillion US dollars; Environmentally, it may affect regional climate, sandstorms, and ecology; It is also facing international questioning, being asked whether it is a "waste of resources" and where sustainability lies. At the same time, the project is currently undergoing audits and adjustments, reducing its scale and extending its schedule, resulting in a slowdown in construction speed, and even suspending the evaluation of some projects.

Signals worthy of attention

There are some noteworthy signals about NEOM. The Saudi government still regards it as a national priority project and has begun to introduce more external audits and feasibility analyses. Core areas such as Hidden Marina will be delivered in advance, and Chinese and European construction teams are also expected to deeply participate in cooperation. This is both an opportunity and a lesson for civil engineers.

Is this the future or a gimmick?

NEOM is a game of technology, capital, and imagination that reveals the challenges and directions of future urban construction. Although controversial, it also promotes the development of green construction and smart infrastructure. Overall, the "City of the Future" NEOM is a bold gamble for Saudi Arabia to break away from its dependence on oil and move towards a technological powerhouse. Despite slow project progress and surging investment, Saudi Arabia has not given up on this attempt at the future. It is not only urban construction, but also a symbol of national strategy and an experiment in the game between ideals and reality. Editor/Wang Xia