From flying cars to the world’s tallest skyscrapers, Saudi Arabia is spending £1 trillion to wean itself off its dependence on oil.
Thanks to Saudi Arabia’s large Vision 2030 investments, the country has unveiled hugely ambitious projects funded with billions of dollars in oil at an unprecedented rate.
In line with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s megalomaniacal vision, Saudi Arabia is desperate to reach halfway around the world.
The value of the assignment is unknown; however, Saudi Arabia is expected to spend more than $175 billion a year on mega-allocations between 2025 and 2028, with around $1. 3 trillion in jumbo allocations underway.
But many megaprojects have received strong complaints of human rights abuses, including the $500 billion Neom project, in which tribes expelled from their Array countries were imprisoned or executed.
Authorities in the port city of Jeddah have also demolished many homes to put Saudi progress plans into effect, and thousands of citizens have been illegally evicted.
One activist claimed that “Neom has Saudi blood. “
Jeed Basyouni, Middle East director of the human rights organization Reprieve, told DW: “We have observed time and time again that anyone who disagrees with the crown prince or stands in his way is at risk of imprisonment or the death penalty. “
Neom is on its way to becoming a Jetsons-style metropolis, unlike other very conservative regions of the desert kingdom.
Backed by the $500 billion Saudi Private Investment Fund (the organization that bought Newcastle United), Neom’s plans are so ambitious that some members of his generation don’t even exist yet.
The city will be on the border with Jordan and Egypt and will begin welcoming citizens and businesses until 2025.
It is “built from the ground up”, will be powered by solar and wind power, will be 17 times the length of London and will be “a hub for robotics”.
Planning documents show that the city will feature flying taxis, a vehicle featured in sci-fi films such as Blade Runner and Back to the Future II.
The pinnacle of Neom is a mirrored megastructure called The Line, a mirrored construction 110 miles, 500 m tall, and 200 m wide that will link Neom to the rest of the kingdom.
But Reprieve’s Basyouni said that “the glossy pamphlets don’t show that this is a city built on forced evictions, state violence and death sentences. “
Activists claim that two towns were cleared and that 20,000 members of the Huwaitat tribe were forcibly evicted, as compensation, to build the megacity.
In September last year, three tribesmen were reportedly executed for opposing the eviction of the site.
Basyouni said Neom represents “the hole between the stated ‘vision’ of Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman and his regime’s repression. “
The Red Sea mission is a tourism in an archipelago of Saudi islands with its airport compromised.
It is planned to be built on undeveloped islands between Umluj and Al Wajh on the western coast of Saudi Arabia.
The Red Sea Development Company describes the breakthrough as “based on sustainability and sustainable tourism” with a number of ultra-luxury hotels.
Nicola Maniero, commissioned by Kengo Kuma and Associates, designed one of the many Red Sea custom resorts.
He told The Sun: “Our task is almost complete and we expect our first visitors to arrive between December and early next year.
“The island we built on is 70 centimeters above sea level.
“So, thanks to the sandblasting paintings we’ve done there, we’ve managed to raise the value of the island and maintain it in the future, not only for tourism but also for its fauna and flora. “
When the task is completed in 2030, 22 islands and six inland sites will have been developed.
Also from Neom, Leyja will be an impressive hotel carved into the walls of a giant canyon.
Those responsible for the project say it will open to tourists in 2024, but it is not yet built.
It will feature 3 hotels, designed by world-renowned architects to integrate with the natural environment that makes up 95% of the futuristic city.
The hotels will have 120 sumptuous rooms and will operate in a completely sustainable way to offer “distinct experiences”.
The first hotel is designed to cater to thrill-seekers and will be carved into a cliff, which will be suitable for enthusiasts or enthusiasts of heights.
The assets will now be closer to the ground and will serve as an “enchanted doorway” for the discovery and exploration of the valley that continues beyond.
It will also feature an eye-catching staircase that will ascend from the canyon to the front of the assets and offer “unparalleled perspectives of the valley in all its beauty. “
The latter hotel deserves to be a place where visitors can relax, as it will be a wellness retreat with a twist.
The retreat will have a stunning high-tech reflective façade that will reflect the good looks of the surroundings and valley walls.
It will also feature infinity pools on the rooftops of all 3 houses and offer extensive guided wadi walks and exhilarating hikes through the valley’s stunning mountain landscape.
Epicon is the newest megalomaniac announced via Neom on November 15th.
This futuristic seaside town will feature residential beach villas, hotels, and a sumptuous resort.
Located in the Gulf of Aqaba, Epicon will consist of two towers measuring 738 feet and 908 feet.
This fast-paced destination will be home to luxury hotels and residences, with 14 hotel suites and apartments.
Near the two luxury towers will be Epicon’s own hotel, comprised of 120 rooms and forty-five striking residential villas on the beach.
Epicon will also offer a beach club, spas, a diversity of recreational activities and water sports, culinary features for every palate, and the herbal appeal of Neom’s shores.
Visitors and citizens of Epicon will also have access to a fitness center, library, workspaces, pools, and lounges.
“Visitors and citizens of Epicon can expect a truly immersive and enriching experience,” the Saudi Press Agency said.
The seven-mile-long canal will be an urban oasis for another 130,000 people in Saudi Arabia.
The ROSHN Group announced the allocation of Marafy in August and it will be built in the city of Jeddah as Saudi Arabia’s first man-made canal.
The developers promise it will offer a waterfront comparable in length to those in Chicago, Stockholm, Hamburg and central London.
The concept is to bring the marine environment to the center of a historic city that has welcomed merchants, travellers and pilgrims for centuries, reports Al Arabiya.
The 328-foot-wide urban waterway will link and enlarge Obhur Creek and be surrounded by several neighborhoods.
The task is expected to breathe new life into Jeddah, creating an urban water room to connect homes and communities with nature and commerce.
“Marafy will be a game-changer in the real estate development sector, raising the bar for progression in the region, improving the quality of life and creating a massive impact in Jeddah,” said David Grover, CEO of ROSHN Group.
“This is one of the iconic projects that will put Jeddah on the map of world-class destinations and one of the participants in achieving the VISION 2030 goals of creating a colorful network and a thriving economy. “
Saudi Arabia is a country more about sand than snow, but the desert kingdom has big plans for an ideal winter sports center.
In the coming years, the Trojena hotel could include cities such as Val d’Isère, Verbier and Zermatt among the most productive ski hotels in the world.
Trojena will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and work has already begun on the arid region to turn it into a futuristic tourist hub.
It will be built in the Sarawat Mountains, about 30 miles east of the Red Sea coast, where the average temperature is 10°C cooler than in the rest of the region.
It will feature a synthetic freshwater lake, a nature reserve and ski slopes.
But doubts are already being raised about whether there will be enough vegetable snow for winter sports.
A promotional video shows skiers from the desert to the mountains of the northwestern region of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
And Neom chief executive Jan Paterson has reportedly admitted that “up to 70%” of that amount would be artificial.
Fraser Wilkin, a snow expert, believes the amount of snow “won’t make sense. “
There will possibly be “some rain or storms in the winter,” but there will be “months of clear blue skies,” he said.
Doubts have been raised about claims that the station would be sustainable.
The Trojena structure would require “blowing up giant portions of the landscape” to build a synthetic lake in the center of the station, Bloomberg reports.
Snow and ice production will also consume enormous resources, says Dr. Schoenstatt. Madeline Orr, founder and co-director of the Sport Ecology Group at Loughborough University.
“There is no doubt that the energy and water resources for ski facilities and ice rinks will be extraordinary,” he said.
“I’ll watch how they do that, but I’m seriously concerned about any claims that this event will be sustainable. “
Sindalah will be the first destination to open in the megacity.
The Sindalah island complex, which is scheduled to open in early 2024, will be the first of ten spaces completed as part of the Neom mega-development in northeastern Saudi Arabia.
This 840,000-square-meter luxury island destination will feature several high-end hotels, a giant marina, a beach club, a wellness center, and luxury shopping.
Visitors to Sindalalah can make the most of their time by kayaking, kitesurfing, water skiing, and scuba diving.
And the hotel will be built around a marina with 86 berths and a yacht club designed by Luca Dini Design and Architecture, for the creation of superyachts.
“Sindallah will be NEOM’s first luxury island destination and yacht club in the Red Sea, providing a panoramic gateway to the Red Sea that will be the most exciting and exciting tourist site in the region,” bin Salman said.
“This will be a destination where travelers will be able to revel in the true appeal of Neom and Saudi Arabia, above and below the water, making Sindalah the long-term luxury trip. “
Alwadi, nicknamed the Arabian Highlands, promises to be a “first-of-its-kind” getaway city for local and foreign tourists.
Alwadi will contain five distinct neighborhoods with 2,000 features ranging from luxury apartments to trendy villas.
You’ll also see high-end hotel accommodations, retail spaces, and high-quality spaces.
The task is expected to contribute more than £4 billion to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP by the end of the decade and create thousands of jobs, reports Al Arabiya.
It will span 2. 5 million meters and adopt architectural styles and character encouraged through the heritage and uniqueness of the Aseer region.
More than 30 of the project’s acreage will be dedicated to green and open space, adding 9. 9 miles of shoreline and more than 10 miles of walking and biking trails.
OXAGON, a floating city, is considered the world’s floating structure, reports Parametric Architecture.
It will be built in the southwestern domain of NEOM and part in the Red Sea, which has an average intensity of 500 meters.
“OXAGON will redefine the global strategy for business progress in the future, protecting the environment and creating jobs and expansion for NEOM,” said Mohammed bin Salman.
“This will contribute to Saudi Arabia’s regional industry and contribute to the creation of a new focal point for global industrial flows. “
The developers promise that OXAGON will identify the world’s first fully incorporated chain and port ecosystem.
Port, logistics and rail services will be unified, generating world-class productivity with net-zero carbon emissions and establishing criteria for generation adoption and environmental sustainability.
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