Saudi Arabia is building a futuristic mega-city 33 times the size of New York City from scratch.
Saudi officials describe it as “the world’s most ambitious project.”
It’s called Neom, a planned 16-borough city on the Red Sea coast in the northwestern Saudi province of Tabuk.
Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg in October 2018 that Neom will be completed in 2025, and phase one is nearing completion.
Here’s everything we know about it so far.
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Neom is a portmanteau of the Greek word neos, meaning “new,” and mustaqbal, the Arabic word for “future”.
It will cover 10,230 square miles, and cost Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund at least $500 billion — plus millions in foreign investment if it can get it.
Neom is part of Vision 2030: an ambitious plan to revolutionize Saudi society, reduce dependence on oil, and make the country a technology hub.
Read more: Business Insider