8 things you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s innovative NEOM project

[The SC]

NEOM is the world’s first independent special zone stretching over three countries set to become a destination located in the Northwestern region of Saudi Arabia. (Supplied)

NEOM is the world’s first independent special zone stretching over three countries. It is set to become a new vibrant destination located in the Northwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Expected to emerge as a leading global hub that exemplifies the future of human civilization by offering its inhabitants an idyllic lifestyle combined with exceptional economic prospects. NEOM seeks to attract top talent from around the world to push the boundaries of innovation like never before, and drive the growth of this zone and its residents.

1. Opportunity-rich developmental area

This special zone is located in the Northwestern region of Saudi Arabia and is set to include territory from within the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, to comprise a total area of 26,500 km2. NEOM will provide a plethora of unique development opportunities, as the project’s strategic coastal Red Sea location is notable for its:

Proximity to international markets and trade routes:

• Approximately 10% of the world’s trade flows through the Red Sea

• Connecting Asia, Europe, Africa and America, the zone will enable 70% of the world’s population to reach it in under eight hours

Temperate climate and diverse terrain:

• The unique geographical location of NEOM ensures a temperate climate, roughly about 10°C cooler – on average – than its surrounding areas, and the rest of the GCC. Cradled in a mountainous region that is home to breathtakingly diverse terrain in the North of Saudi Arabia, the area earmarked for the development also enjoys cooler winds coming in from the Red Sea for the best possible climate for future residents.

Incredible terrain that offers:

1) Untouched beaches with more than 460km of pristine coastline and several spectacular islands

2) Scenic mountains reaching up to 2,500km in height, with views across the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea, where during parts of winter some are covered in snow

3) Idyllic and peaceful desert expanses that astound the visitors

Development from the ground up:

• The blank slate upon which NEOM is set to be developed provides unique opportunities. The fundamental distinction from traditional urban planning projects is the new technology that will be built into the blueprints of the infrastructural framework.

Richness in natural resources:

• Situated in an area rich in wind, and solar energy resources, the location of NEOM provides an ideal environment in which to develop renewable energy projects

• Perennial solar resources (20 MJ/m2)

• Ideal wind speed (an average of 10.3 m/s)

• The area is also rich in Oil and Gas as well as Mineral resources. The use of such resources will have to live up to the unmatched high sustainability standards.

2. Advantages of the project

NEOM offers unique opportunities and advantages to leading investors and business owners worldwide, with the aim of stimulating GDP growth in the Kingdom. This project offers potential investors:

• Direct access to the Saudi Arabian market and global markets, given its unique geographic location as a hub that links three continents

• Comprehensive supply and innovation systems

• Funding and financial incentives

• Favorable industry specific regulatory environment paired with international trade laws

• An infrastructural environment which puts the human first and technology in its hands to experience the future first

• Redirecting Saudi spend abroad back indirectly into NEOM. This is an incredible opportunity, as Saudis spend significant amounts on tourism ($15 billion), healthcare ($12.5 billion), education ($5 billion), and general investment abroad ($5 billion)

It also offers inhabitants:

• An idyllic living environment and rich quality of life

• Technology-based civil services in health, education, transport, entertainment, and other fields

• Advanced urban planning

• Many opportunities for employment and personal growth

• World-standard social norms in culture, arts, and education

3. Huge earnings for Saudi Arabia

The NEOM project is set to transform the Kingdom into a leading global innovation and trade hub through the introduction of value chains of traditional and future industries and technologies to stimulate local industry, private sector job creation, and GDP growth in the Kingdom.

4. Contributing to the realization of Vision 2030

Born from the ambition of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to see the country develop into a pioneering and thriving model of excellence, the NEOM project targets the achievement of the three following pillars of the Vision 2030:

A vibrant society

• A destination at the top of the world's most livable cities index

• Developing the information and digital sectors that contribute to the Kingdom's GDP

• The promise of becoming an aspirational society that demonstrates the future of human civilization, sought-after as a place to live and work by local, regional, and international talent

A thriving economy

• Favorable business environment and regulations

• Incentives for attracting foreign companies and investments

• Nine sectors aimed at diversifying the economy away from oil

• Strong contribution to the Kingdom's GDP and redirecting some of the leakage of overseas spend back into the base economy

An ambitious nation

• A vibrant destination that adopts technology in service of humanity

• The full utilization of digital technologies to increase government efficiency

• Leveraging the latest advancements in sustainability, connectivity, and mobility

5. Economic sectors

The NEOM project aims to develop nine key economic sectors for the future, in addition to the establishment of industries that curb economic leakage in the Kingdom, and the region in general. This will be achieved through the establishment of development funds, that will support these sectors, identified as:

• The future of energy and water: Includes being, fully powered by renewable energy, forward looking energy storage, and transport solutions as well as R&D and manufacturing. In addition, utilizing green technology in building water capabilities and maximizing usage efficiency

• The future of mobility: Includes seaports, airports, autonomous transport solutions such as autonomous vehicles/drones, and others

• The future of biotech: Includes biotechnology, human biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals manufacturing

• The future of food: Includes an international innovation center for food technologies, including seawater and desert farming, aeroponics, and hydroponics

• The future of advanced manufacturing: Includes new materials in composites and metals, 3D printing, robotics and vehicle manufacturing, and much more

• The future of media and media production: Includes the development of the television and film industry, the video gaming industry, digital content, and more

• The future of entertainment: Includes facilities, activities, sporting and cultural entertainment events, and others

• The future of technological and digital sciences: Includes artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality technologies, data centers, the Internet of Things, and e-commerce

• The future of living as NEOM’s foundation: Includes housing, education, security and safety, green spaces, health care, hospitality, hotels, and others

6. World-class quality of life

NEOM is positioned to become an aspirational society that denotes the future of human civilization by offering its inhabitants a lifestyle that surpasses that of any other metropolis, through the development of a unique societal experience that encompasses:

• Favorable business environment: Offering systems conducive to investment

• Idyllic living environment: Offering a comfortable and enjoyable community with the highest quality of life that includes a combination of beautiful beaches and mountains and untouched land, along with best in class education, arts and culture facilities.

• Continental demographics: Offering a multicultural environment that nurtures a proactive and diverse community

• World-class education: Offering high quality education that caters to everyone at all stages of development

• Transport: Offering fast and efficient mobility across NEOM

• Comfortable housing: Offering ample housing and facilities for everyone

• Stability: Offering a safe, secure, and stable society

• Healthcare: Offering world-class healthcare facilities, using advanced capabilities to provide an all round service

7. Main futuristic concepts

The futuristic vision of the project comprises six main pillars that will be adopted across NEOM

• Human beings as a top priority: NEOM provides its residents with comfortable living conditions set within an idyllic society that promotes inclusion and encourages personal growth and lives by world-class social norms

• The next generation of healthy living and transport: NEOM will allow its residents to reach many locations via walking or biking and also have an unprecedented transportation infrastructure, build on future transportation technologies

• Automated services/ E-Government: NEOM government services will be fully automated and most easily accessible to its residents

• Digitization: NEOM will provide its residents “digital air”, free highest-speed internet and free online continuous education at their fingertips

• Sustainability: NEOM will be solely powered by renewable energy and buildings will have a net zero carbon footprint

• Innovation in construction: Serving as a laboratory for innovative construction techniques and materials operating with complete flexibility to meet future requirements

8. Economic Earnings

One of the project’s main advantages is the redirection of the Kingdom’s economic leakage back to the country:

• Net imports to the Kingdom: The nine sectors outlined for development will return about $70 billion in revenue back into the Kingdom, by way of commodities currently imported from abroad, through the potential of local production of vehicles, machinery and communication equipment.

• Investments abroad: The project will provide new opportunities in previously non-existent sectors for Saudi Arabian investors, within an environment that adopts favorable business laws and a system conducive to growth. Thus, part of the investment leakage issue will be addressed.

• Saudi consumers overseas spending: NEOM will offer a new local tourist destination for Saudi citizens to visit, while ensuring that their capital is injected back into the local economy.

NEOM will be back by more than $500 billion over the coming years by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, local as well as international investors. NEOM’s contribution to the Kingdom's GDP is projected to reach at least $100 billion by 2030, in addition to its per capita GDP – projected to become the highest in the world.


For further information on NEOM please visit DISCOVERNEOM.COM
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/bus...t-Saudi-Arabia-s-innovative-NEOM-project.html
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/bus...t-Saudi-Arabia-s-innovative-NEOM-project.html
http://discoverneom.com/

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Some random photos of the ancient and historical Tabuk province:

تبوك - حسمه - رحلة مصوري تبوك by © Saud AL-Jethli, Photo, on Flickr

tabukarea164 by tabuk تبوك, on Flickr

​

Saudi Arabia Snow by ABO_TMEEM, on Flickr

Saudi Arabia - Tabuk , by © Saud AL-Jethli, Photo, on Flickr

Saudi Arabia. Tabuk 2010 by © Saud AL-Jethli, Photo, on Flickr

الوجه الاخر by A.Aziz Hajjaj عبدالعزيز بن حجاج, on Flickr

Amazing footage from Tabuk province:

https://twitter.com/x/status/829335131470958593

44 different shark species can be found in the tropical waters of the Red Sea​

List of sharks in the Red Sea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Great Whites are present too.


Tabuk area منطقة تبوك by tabuk تبوك, on Flickr

​

KSA is also home to almost 2000 islands. This is an example of 1 such island. Tabuk Province. A stunning video.

Evidence of a large Christian monastery (one of the earliest in the world) in modern-day Northwestern KSA (Hijaz - current day Tabuk province):

https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/c...ve-of-islam-kilwa-saudi-arabia-new-jn3k599qlT

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Some more random photos:

حقل by Faisal Almaiman, on Flickr

An example of one of the many traditional dresses of the Tabuk region:







Tabuk province 31 seconds into the video:

Beautiful video that shows a part of Tabuk province:

Another very nice video:

It snows several times each winter in Tabuk region and temperatures of -15 Celsius are not unheard of during the coldest nights and days. If recorded in the mountains (the mountains in Tabuk region are approximately 2500 meters tall) the temperature of course will be even colder. On the other hand the highest temperature recorded in Tabuk city was 46 Celsius!

1.6 million views (also from Tabuk province):

The thread title is nonsense though as it snows several times each winter in KSA as I wrote.

 

[Solomon2]

^^^^
More captions, please.

 

[The SC]

 

[Saif al-Arab]

The laughing in the background is the icing on the cake.

I think that the otherwise extinct and legendary Arabian ostrich has resurfaced in the Tabuk Region.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_ostrich

 

[The SC]

The laughing in the background is the icing on the cake.

I think that the otherwise extinct and legendary Arabian ostrich has resurfaced in the Tabuk Region.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_ostrich

But with snow instead of sand.. very funny.. I thought the guy wanted to cool off his head..

 

[Saif al-Arab]

But with snow instead of sand.. very funny.. I thought the guy wanted to cool off his head..

Arabian ostriches were able to withstand snow and freezing temperatures since they roamed the mountains, deserts and farm lands of Northern Arabia, Jordan, Sham and Iraq.

 

[Clutch]

I don't think 500 Billion is possible for Saudi. They are banking on getting most of the funding from selling of shares of Aramco . I think that would be difficult.

However, I think it's a great project and if it pans out would definitely put Saudi on the map so to speak.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

I don't think 500 Billion is possible for Saudi. They are banking on getting most of the funding from selling of shares of Aramco . I think that would be difficult.

However, I think it's a great project and if it pans out would definitely put Saudi on the map so to speak.

What are you blabbering about again? KSA's sovereign wealth fund alone is worth more than 500 billion.

No, the Aramco IPO is not the key here.

Such a sum of money can be generated over the next 1.5-2 decades by the income of the Saudi Arabian state. Let alone with additional local private investors.

Apparently you lack even the basic knowledge about this project as it is expected that several multi-billion big investments from abroad will be made and several international firms have already promised to do so. KSA is a huge untapped market for foreign investors and a market in growth.

KSA is already on the map very much so however it will only become more and more highlighted on that map. Already KSA is very much visible on a world map but that is another discussion.

 

[Clutch]

What are you blabbering about again? KSA's sovereign wealth fund alone is worth more than 500 billion.

No, the Aramco IPO is not the key here.

Such a sum of money can be generated over the next 1.5-2 decades by the income of the Saudi Arabian state. Let alone with additional local private investors.

Apparently you lack even the basic knowledge about this project as it is expected that several multi-billion big investments from abroad will be made and several international firms have already promised to do so. KSA is a huge untapped market for foreign investors and a market in growth.

KSA is already on the map very much so however it will only become more and more highlighted on that map. Already KSA is very much visible on a world map but that is another discussion.

Saudi cannot use its entire sovereign fund to finance the project. It still has to feed it's people and other budgetary obligations.



Ps* for an open plural society where thought and free speech is an incubator of innovation you need to be able to have a civil discourse of opposing ideas... otherwise you end up with a regressive totalitarian society...

I think NEOM should be closely aligned with CPEC to encourage connectivity through SEZ in Gwadar dedicated to NEOM on a 100 year guaranteed lease. ... Win-win

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Saudi cannot use its entire sovereign fund to finance the project. It still has to feed it's people and other budgetary obligations.

If you don't want any sort of conversation around the project ... then here you go: it's a super super project, it will be the best in the universe, make Saudi universal hyper superpower, has no risks, is 100000% sucess. ... happy?

Ps* for an open plural society where thought and free speech is an incubator of innovation you need to be able to have a civil discourse of opposing ideas... otherwise you end up with a regressive totalitarian society... something I thought this project was supposed to encourage... I guess I was wrong... back to dictatorship... "me right! I kill you!"

You do realize that a historic project like this will be multidimensional, right? Funding will come from many sources; the state, private sector, foreign investors, Aramco IPO, the sovereign wealth fund and many other sources of wealth.

Do you realize that KSA is undergoing huge economic reforms? Citizens and expats will be taxed. There you have a several billion big monthly income to the state that KSA has been deprived off unlike every other state on the planet other than fellow GCC states. Just to mention one example.

I have not noticed you wanting a serious discussion about anything related to KSA (nor this project) other than the same bias that you are parroting in thread after thread.

Ok, this project will fail tremendously like ALL other projects in KSA have. Everything is a hoax.

 

[Clutch]

You do realize that a historic project like this will be multidimensional, right? Funding will come from many sources; the state, private sector, foreign investors, Aramco IPO, the sovereign wealth fund and many other sources of wealth.

I have not noticed you wanting a serious discussion about anything related to KSA (nor this project) other than the same bias that you are parroting in thread after thread.

Ok, this project will fail tremendously like ALL other projects in KSA have. Everything is a hoax.

I love Saudi and it's people. I'm not sure if you are Saudi. Pakistan is indebted to Saudi for its assistance to pakistan over the decades. I have no clue where you are getting your opinion from.

Having said that I still think NEOM should be closely aligned with CPEC to encourage connectivity through SEZ in Gwadar dedicated to NEOM on a 100 year guaranteed lease.... Recreate the Silk Road for the modern times.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

@Clutch

Speaking about economic reforms (just in):

Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd in world’s high-income countries for business reforms for 2018​

ARAB NEWS | Published — Wednesday 1 November 2017

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has made unprecedented progress in helping to ease business and boost investor confidence, according to a world report.
The Kingdom is among the top 20 countries in the world, and second among the most high-income in G-20 countries, at making reforms to improve the business climate, a World Bank Group report said.
Saudi Arabia’s progress in ease of doing business for 2018 excelled in six of 10 axes: Protecting minority investors, enforcing contracts, starting a business, cross-border trade, registering property and settling bankruptcy, the report added.
The Kingdom’s strong reforms have led to progress in protecting the minority shareholders, ranking 10th in the world, which is a strong signal to those interested in investing in the Kingdom, according to the report.
The reforms also included facilitating payment of taxes by improving the electronic filing system to raise tax returns and pay taxes. It reduced the number of hours required to pay taxes from 67 to 47 hours, the report highlighted.
The Kingdom has also facilitated cross-border trade by reducing the number of documents required for customs clearance, reducing the processing time required by nine days for exports (from 90 days to 81 days) and imports (from 131 days to 122 days), the report stated.
One of the other reforms undertaken by the Kingdom has been to improve efficiency of the land management system by simplifying registration procedures.
This is the first time that the Kingdom has achieved reforms in six axes in one year. It had only four reforms in 2009 and 2011.
All those results were achieved through “Taysir”, a committee for improving performance of business in the private sector.
The committee works in accordance with an integrated vision with relevant government agencies to facilitate procedures ensuring efficiency and facilitate the business practice to improve rank in the indexes of ease of doing business and improve the Kingdom’s ranking in the Global Competitiveness Report.
The committee was formed upon a decision issued by the Economic and Development Affairs Council and headed by Majed bin Abdullah Al-Qassabi, minister of commerce and investment. The committee aims to set up a plan improving performance of businesses in the private sector and motivating them to participate in the economic development in accordance with the Kingdom Vision 2030.
The committee seeks to improve laws and regulations that stimulate the business environment in the Kingdom.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1186416/saudi-arabia

According to a World Bank Group report.

I love Saudi and it's people. I'm not sure if you are Saudi. Pakistan is indebted to Saudi for its assistance to pakistan over the decades. I have no clue where you are getting your opinion from.

Having said that I still think NEOM should be closely aligned with CPEC to encourage connectivity through SEZ in Gwadar dedicated to NEOM on a 100 year guaranteed lease.... Recreate the Silk Road for the modern times.

That's good to hear. I also have a positive view of Pakistan and its people.

However what are you blabbering about now and what has Pakistan to do with this discussion in this thread and supposedly me not being an Saudi Arabian (nice joke)? Not sure if serious or trolling.

I am solely writing what I see from you and that is a bias when it comes to KSA. At least this is how I see it but I might be wrong.

BTW I have never claimed that this project will be the biggest gift to this earth but I will allow myself to be optimistic and impressed as are most foreign media and reports. They are that for a reason.

Read the content of the article that @The SC posted. Look at all the influential people from across the world who attended and all the international firms that they represented and their publicly stated pledges. With that in mind and a lot of other factors (just mentioned a few already) you cannot blame locals for being optimistic or impressed SO FAR.

 

[The SC]

I love Saudi and it's people. I'm not sure if you are Saudi. Pakistan is indebted to Saudi for its assistance to pakistan over the decades. I have no clue where you are getting your opinion from.

Having said that I still think NEOM should be closely aligned with CPEC to encourage connectivity through SEZ in Gwadar dedicated to NEOM on a 100 year guaranteed lease.... Recreate the Silk Road for the modern times.

NEOM will be linked to CPEC through roads, you realise that this zone reserved for the project is completely on the western side of KSA on the red sea.. but do not worry much, CPEC will be connected to the whole Saudi Arabia, since the whole country is part of the new Silk road..

For NEOM Financing Saudi Arabia is going to pour in the initial investments of around $250 billion spread on 12 years, that makes it around $2 billion a year, something that is very affordable.. the other estimated $250 billion will come from Investors, both local and foreign..also spread over the same period of time.. this is why it is very feasible..