NEOM

NEOM is a major development project in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, established in 2019 with a master plan covering 26,500 square kilometres, and is one of the most prominent projects of the Public Investment Fund [1][2]. The project offers a vision of a new concept of the future, and is being built to be a global centre for entrepreneurship and innovation [1].

The project operates entirely on renewable energy, and applies a circular economy model with a carbon-neutral approach in line with Saudi Vision 2030 [1][2]. Its plan includes major cities and destinations, among them THE LINE, Oxagon, Trojena and Sindalah, alongside NEOM Port and the green hydrogen project.

The project extends over an area of 26,500 square kilometres in the northwest of the Kingdom on the Red Sea coast, and operates entirely on renewable energy [1][2]. Its master plan includes several zones supported by diverse economic sectors to promote development [2].

The project protects 95% of its natural environment, setting a new global standard in environmental conservation [2]. Its innovative design and advanced technological solutions help redefine the concept of urban life, enhance environmental sustainability and improve quality of life [1].

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister and Chairman of the NEOM Company board, announced the launch of the city of THE LINE in NEOM on 10 January 2021. It is a city extending over 170 kilometres that provides 380,000 jobs and contributes 180 billion riyals (48 billion US dollars) to gross domestic product by 2030 [3].

On 25 July 2022, the city's designs were announced: it is 200 metres wide along a span of 170 kilometres and 500 metres above sea level, is built on an area not exceeding 34 square kilometres, accommodates about 9 million residents, and relies on 100% renewable energy while preserving 95% of NEOM's land for nature [4].

THE LINE includes interconnected cognitive communities enhanced by artificial intelligence [3].

The industrial city of Oxagon was announced on 16 November 2021. It is the world's largest floating industrial complex and occupies a large area in the southwestern corner of NEOM [5]. Oxagon is being developed on an area of 48 square kilometres as a city for advanced and clean industries, adopting future systems for industry and logistics [6][2].

On 17 May 2023, NEOM Port opened to investors and the business sector. It is the main maritime commercial gateway to the northwest of the Kingdom, and the value of investments in it had reached more than 7.5 billion riyals at that point, with its first newly developed terminals to be inaugurated during 2025 [7].

The port's current capacity is 250,000 standard containers, and a strategic expansion is under way to raise it to 1.5 million standard containers by 2030, with the gradual operation of the advanced container terminal beginning in 2027 [6].

On 5 July 2026, the first unloading of a wheat shipment through NEOM Port was carried out in cooperation with the National Grain Supply Company (SABOL), with a cargo of 66,000 tonnes [8].

Trojena, NEOM's global mountain tourism destination, was announced on 3 March 2022 as part of the project's plan and strategy to contribute to supporting and developing the tourism sector in the region [9].

On 5 December 2022, the development of Sindalah Island was announced as the project's first luxury maritime tourism destination. It lies in the Red Sea on a total area of approximately 840,000 square metres. The island includes 86 berths, 413 hotel rooms and 333 hotel apartments, and the project creates about 3,500 jobs [10].

On 27 October 2024, the NEOM board of directors announced the opening of Sindalah Island to visitors, making it the project's first destination to receive visitors, on an area of 840,000 square metres. It is expected to provide about 3,500 jobs and to receive about 2,400 visitors a day by 2028 [11].

The project invests in hydrogen technologies, and NEOM Green Hydrogen Company is building the world's largest hydrogen plant [2]. On 1 February 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued the first industrial licence in Oxagon to NEOM Green Hydrogen Company, a joint venture between NEOM, ACWA Power and Air Products. It is expected to begin production in 2026 with a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of green ammonia a year, equivalent to 600 tonnes of hydrogen a day, drawing on about 4 gigawatts of wind and solar power [12].

On 24 May 2023, the financial close of the NEOM green hydrogen plant was announced, with total investment of 31.5 billion riyals, of which 22.9 billion riyals is financing from 23 financial institutions. It is the world's largest facility for producing green hydrogen for commercial use. It is estimated to produce an initial 600 tonnes a day from 2026, and to cut about 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year [13].

Q: What is the NEOM project? A: It is a major development project in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, established in 2019, whose master plan extends over an area of 26,500 square kilometres. It is one of the most prominent projects of the Public Investment Fund, and operates entirely on renewable energy [1][2].

Q: What are NEOM's most prominent cities and destinations? A: THE LINE, Oxagon, Trojena and Sindalah, in addition to NEOM Port and the green hydrogen project [3][5][6][9][10][12].

Q: How does the project contribute to Saudi Vision 2030? A: Among THE LINE's targets are providing 380,000 jobs and adding 180 billion riyals (48 billion US dollars) to gross domestic product by 2030, with the project relying on renewable energy and applying the circular economy model [3][1][2].

Q: What are NEOM Port's targets? A: Its current capacity is 250,000 standard containers, and an expansion is under way to raise it to 1.5 million containers by 2030, with the gradual operation of the advanced container terminal beginning in 2027 [6].

Q: What is NEOM's green hydrogen project? A: It is a joint venture between NEOM, ACWA Power and Air Products, with a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of green ammonia a year, equivalent to 600 tonnes of hydrogen a day, at a total investment of 31.5 billion riyals, and it is estimated to cut about 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year [12][13].

The project brings together in its plan cities, destinations, a port and a green hydrogen project, with announced targets extending to 2030, among the giga-projects led by the Public Investment Fund in the Kingdom [1][2]. A related topic on the platform is Tabuk Region, within whose geographical scope fall the development projects in the northwest of the Kingdom.