Picture a city where mirrored towers slice through Saudi Arabia’s desert, housing millions in a car-free, AI-driven paradise. This is NEOM, a $1.5 trillion megaproject that feels like a Bollywood sci-fi blockbuster. Unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017, NEOM aims to redefine urban living. For Indians, with our love for innovation and grandeur, NEOM’s ambition is magnetic. Yet, its soaring promises come with gritty controversies. Let’s unravel this desert dream, where technology dances with daring and danger.
NEOM, meaning “new future” from Greek “neo” and Arabic “mustaqbal,” is Saudi Arabia’s bold leap. It’s the linchpin of Vision 2030, launched in 2016 to wean the kingdom off oil. Spanning 26,500 square kilometres along the Red Sea, NEOM dwarfs Kuwait. Its flagship, The Line, is a 170-kilometre mirrored city, 500 metres tall, designed for nine million. No cars, no emissions, just AI, drones, and a five-minute walk to everything. Sindalah, a luxury island, opened in October 2024, dazzling with yachts and resorts. For Indians, it’s like imagining Goa transformed into Monte Carlo.
The Line’s first phase, Hidden Marina, a 2.5-kilometre stretch, targets 300,000 residents by 2030. Bloomberg reported this scaling back from 1.5 million, citing budget woes, though Saudi Economy Minister Faisal Al Ibrahim insists, “All projects are full steam ahead.” The Public Investment Fund (PIF), NEOM’s sole backer, hasn’t approved its 2024 budget, per Semafor. In July 2025, PIF hired consultants to review The Line’s feasibility, focusing on costs and timelines. With $50 billion spent, completion is now eyed for 2045. Indian firms like Larsen & Toubro, building solar and wind systems, are key players.
Sindalah, NEOM’s first completed region, spans 840,000 square metres. Designed by Luca Dini, it boasts 51 luxury outlets and 3,500 jobs. Oxagon, a floating industrial hub, integrates the Port of NEOM and a $8.4 billion green hydrogen plant, set for 2026. Trojena, a desert ski resort, will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. Its 36 kilometres of slopes defy nature, much like India’s audacious Himalayan projects. Magna, a coastal luxury zone, promises 12 eco-friendly destinations. NEOM’s scale is staggering, 20% of global steel will build it.
NEOM’s vision is a tech lover’s dream. Tonomus, its AI arm, powers a “cognitive city” where data predicts needs. A $5 billion AI data centre, partnered with DataVolt, opens in 2028, rivaling UAE’s tech hub. Topian, NEOM’s food venture, uses vertical farming with Dutch firm Van Der Hoeven, echoing India’s agri-tech push. NEOM’s media hub, active since 2022, lures filmmakers, akin to Mumbai’s studios. Its sports ties, from McLaren Formula E to Rajasthan Royals, thrill Indian fans.
But NEOM’s shine has cracks. Environmentalists, like climate consultant Donald Wuebbles, warn its mirrored facades could shift rainfall and intensify sandstorms. Desalination, NEOM’s water source, guzzles fossil fuels, belying zero-carbon claims. The Line’s glass walls threaten bird migrations, a concern India’s eco-warriors would echo. Human rights groups slam forced evictions of 20,000 Huwaitat tribespeople. In 2020, activist Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti was killed, and 47 tribesmen face jail or death, per ALQST. For Indians, this recalls Gulf migrant worker struggles.
Worker conditions spark outrage. A 2024 Wall Street Journal report exposed deaths, including Indians, amid allegations of racism and misogyny. The documentary Kingdom Uncovered called NEOM a “slavery” site, though Saudi officials refute this. With 140,000 workers, India’s diaspora among them, NEOM’s ethical shadow looms. “It’s a surveillance city,” warns researcher Vincent Mosco, citing AI-driven monitoring. India, debating data privacy, would scrutinize such tech. NEOM’s promise of freedom clashes with Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
Financially, NEOM teeters. Its $8.8 trillion long-term cost, per a 2023 draft, is 25 times Saudi Arabia’s budget. In November 2024, CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr resigned abruptly, replaced by Aiman Al-Mudaifer. Red Sea tensions, with Houthi attacks, threaten tourism and supply chains. India, reliant on these routes, shares this worry. Saudi Arabia’s outreach to Israel for tech expertise, reported in 2022, adds geopolitical spice. For India, balancing Gulf ties, NEOM could be a trade gateway or a risk.
NEOM’s allure captivates Indians. Sindalah’s beaches rival Maldives, while Trojena’s slopes beckon adventure seekers. The Line’s AI city fascinates techies dreaming of Bengaluru 2.0. Yet, its dystopian vibe, constant surveillance, walled isolation, spooks critics. “Why not horizontal lifts?” asks Denis Hickey, The Line’s Chief Development Officer, redefining urbanism. For India’s urban planners, facing Delhi’s sprawl, NEOM’s compact design intrigues. But can it deliver, or is it a desert mirage?
NEOM’s saga unfolds. By 2034, its first phase may reshape cities globally. Sindalah’s success hints at potential, but The Line’s delays breed doubt. For Indians, NEOM is a paradox, innovation’s pinnacle, yet ethically fraught. As Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bets on this utopia, the world holds its breath. Will NEOM rewrite urban living, or crumble under its own weight? The desert hides the answer, but its story grips us all.
