Neom, Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city is 20% complete

 A news article caught my attention, suggesting that this enormous controversial project is a fifth of the way through its construction.

Their own press office state “NEOM is already being built, and the first destinations will come online in 2024. The project is phased, with OXAGON also getting its first residents in 2024; and TROJENA, becoming a place to live, work and holiday in 2026. The first modules of THE LINE, will also be activated in 2026, and by 2030, some one million people will be resident in NEOM, rising to nine million in 2045.”

Oxagon is one of the 10 regions that will make up NEOM, and is a floating port city, designed by the Danish Architectural practice “BIG”. Based in Copenhagen and New York City, “this group of architects, designers and builders operate within the fields of architecture, urbanism, research and development,” according to Wikipedia.

Pronounced as the world’s largest floating structure, Oxagon will be (unsurprisingly) octagon shaped, and built part way into the Red Sea, to connect ships sailing through the Suez Canal. With a cruise terminal; an oceanic research centre; and a port and logistics area; they also state, a manufacturing district, as well as a research and innovation campus; shipping facilities; and villages for workers to reside.

NEOM also includes The Line, which is a 170km linear city which is currently under construction, a ski resort named Trojena, and an island resort called Sindalah.

Trojena, the ski resort, will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, and will be completed in 2026, covering a 60 square kilometre outdoor activity and skiing destination. Built in a mountainous location that is 2,600m above sea level, the development will have over two thousand homes and almost 4 thousand hotel rooms, with all the infrastructure powered by renewable energy.

Sindalah, is advertised as a luxury island and super yacht club, with numerous hotels, apartments and villas, giving its visitors the choice between 40 restaurants and a couple of golf courses.