THE first part of Saudia Arabia’s £1trillion Neom project is complete – with a luxurious Red Sea resort opening its doors to the world’s elite.
Despite boasting ultra-luxurious hotels, restaurants and yacht marinas, the Neom project has been exposed for the deaths of over 21,000 workers since it began.
The man-made island, named Sindalah, has its own restaurants, ultra-luxurious hotels and an 86-berth marina – ready for rich guests to walk, or sail, through its doors.
But it’s also the place where thousands of workers may have died due to the dangerous and inhumane working conditions they were put through – all to fulfil Mohammed bin Salman’s vision.
Neom has described Sindalah as its “first physical showcase” that looks to “serve as Neom’s gateway to the Red Sea”.
The futuristic mega-project hopes to garner attention from European, Saudi and GCC yacht owners by providing big spenders with “easy access” due to its location.
And that’s exactly what the island will get this week as a handpicked group of elites, from financiers to influencers, will be the first to experience the island and what it has to offer.
But with serious allegations of missed payments, illegal working hours and a number of clear human rights violations made, the future success of the mega-project is unclear.
Dubbed the “inaugural destination”, Sindalah is spread over a whopping 840,000 metres and is set to receive up to 2,400 guests per day by 2028, according to Neom executives.
Concept pictures of the holiday destination showed modern villas with extraordinary ocean views and plenty of greenery – but the dark underbelly of the island imagines bloodshed and slaves.
Neom says Sindalah looks to combine “world-class hospitality, fine dining and curated experiences in on all-encompassing destination.”
The Saudi government’s focus on the luxury market is said to be an attempt to distinguish itself from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
The island resort is one of the more realistic elements of Neom’s plans, which also includes mirrored sideways skyscraper The Line.
But 21,000 worker deaths have occurred in the years since the Crown Prince launched the project, shocking statistics claim.
Staff have complained of feeling like “trapped slaves” and “beggars” in the country.
Serious allegations of missed payments, working illegal hours and a number of clear human rights violations have all been made.
Terrified workers and the heartbroken family members of workers who have died since moving to Saudi have revealed the horrors they’ve faced in recent years in ITV‘s latest expose.
Dubbed “Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia” the documentary speaks on the deadly issues experienced firsthand for many.
It goes inside the illegal practices and terrible violations many say are being committed each day under the guise of constructing some of the world’s priciest building projects.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been at the forefront of trying to develop the oil state into a global tourism hub.
He has splashed trillions to create his Saudi Vision 2030 project which features complexes sch as the flagship NEOM which includes fantasy ideas such as The Line.
Despite the luxury plans for the ambitious builds human rights groups have expressed many concerns over the massive construction plans.
With fears that migrant labour will be exploited and many locals would be displaced.
Saudi Arabia has also been hit with serious allegations claiming a significant number of migrants working in construction have disappeared.
Emerging reports allege that as many as 100,000 migrant workers have gone missing during the construction of Neom.
One worker revealed in the documentary that he is often made to work 16-hour days helping to build a high-speed train tunnel for The Line.
Over just one seven-day week the worker says he can do upwards of 84 hours.
Saudi law strictly states that no one should do more than 60 hours a week.
BY Juliana Cruz Lima, Foreign News Reporter
Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project, despite its ambitious vision, has been criticized for several major blunders that have raised concerns about its feasibility, ethics, and overall execution.
Here are the top five major blunders associated with the project:
Forced Displacement of Indigenous Communities: One of the most significant controversies surrounding NEOM is the forced displacement of the Huwaitat tribe.
This indigenous community, which has lived in the area for centuries, was forcibly removed from their ancestral lands to make way for the development of the mega-city.
The Saudi government’s crackdown on those who resisted, including the killing of a tribal leader, Abdul Rahim al-Howeiti, has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organisations.
This blunder not only sparked international outrage but also tainted NEOM’s image as a forward-thinking, humane project.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability Concerns: NEOM has been marketed as an environmentally sustainable city, but the environmental impact of such a massive development is a major concern.
The project’s scale—covering over 26,500 square kilometers—poses significant risks to local ecosystems, particularly in the Red Sea, which is home to rich marine biodiversity.
Critics argue that the construction of artificial islands and extensive urbanisation could lead to irreversible ecological damage.
The enormous water and energy demands required to maintain a green city in the desert also raise questions about the project’s sustainability.
Economic Viability and Cost Overruns: NEOM is one of the most expensive development projects in history.
But there are serious doubts about its economic viability. Critics question whether the project can attract the necessary foreign investment and whether it will generate sufficient returns to justify the enormous expenditure.
The economic risks are further compounded by potential cost overruns and delays, which are common in megaprojects of this scale.
This financial gamble has led some to worry that NEOM could become a costly white elephant if it fails to meet its ambitious goals.
Technological Overreach and Ethical Concerns: NEOM is envisioned as a high-tech city, heavily reliant on artificial intelligence, robotics, and extensive surveillance systems.
While this technological ambition is central to NEOM’s identity, it also raises significant ethical concerns. The level of surveillance planned for the city could lead to unprecedented control over residents’ lives, sparking fears about privacy and civil liberties.
The lack of transparency about how AI will be used, coupled with concerns about job displacement, has also led to criticism that NEOM’s technological vision may be more dystopian than utopian.
Cultural and Social Disconnect: NEOM’s vision of a futuristic, liberalized society clashes sharply with Saudi Arabia’s deeply conservative cultural norms.
The project plans to introduce mixed-gender sports, entertainment events, and other liberal lifestyle elements that are rare in the kingdom.
This cultural shift has raised concerns about a potential clash between NEOM’s globalised vision and the traditional values of Saudi society.
The disconnect between the project’s ambitions and the broader cultural context has led to skepticism about whether NEOM can truly integrate into Saudi Arabia’s social fabric without causing significant friction.
