Since its announcement in 2017, Saudi Arabia’s groundbreaking Neom City has turned heads, set benchmarks, and brought visions to fruition. The groundbreaking plans have become a reality, giving Neom City in the Tabuk Province of northwestern Saudi Arabia global attention. For a long time, Neom comprised four main regions: The Line, Trojena, Oxagon, and Sindalah. Then, like a domino effect in development, Crown Prince MBS initiated a series of megaprojects, each surpassing the other, elevating Neom from a city envisioned at the forefront of technological innovation to a world within a world.
“They say about a lot of projects happening in Saudi Arabia, ‘It can’t be done, and this is very ambitious.’ They can keep saying that, and we can keep proving them wrong,” said the Crown Prince. Covering 26,500 square kilometers, this destination is significantly larger than other global cities like New York City or Singapore. There may still be more unannounced projects in the pipeline, but for now, this bold and ambitious vision-turned-reality is thriving. Below are some of its more fascinating regions:
10. The Line, an ingenious horizontal development
The Line megacity, a 75-mile-long skyscraper, will change the way people live. “The Line is a civilizational revolution that puts humans first,” said Prince MBS. In Neom, there are no cars, streets, or carbon emissions. Comprising an incredible city shaped like a strip and designed by US studio Morphosis, The Line will be approximately two kilometers (roughly 1.25 miles) wide.
Two skyscrapers, taller than the Empire State Building, will run parallel to each other across 75 miles of desert, coastal, and mountain landscapes. “Neom will compete with Miami in terms of entertainment, culture, sports, and retail,” the Saudi Crown Prince said. “It’s a blend of topography, from mountains to islands, beaches, dunes, oases, corals, and activities ranging from skiing to diving.” The megacity could take up to 50 years to construct, with features like a giant fake moon, animatronic dinosaurs, robot farmers, and tropical rainforests.
9. Oxagon, a floating port city
An $8.4 billion octagonal port designed by Danish studio BIG will be the world’s largest floating structure, powered by the world’s biggest green hydrogen plant. Oxagon, a fully automated port, will serve as an integrated logistics hub, capitalizing on shipping through the Suez Canal. It will include a cruise terminal and an oceanographic research center.
This net-zero city will rely on robots and AI for operations, powered by clean energy. “Oxagon will be the catalyst for economic growth and diversity in Neom and the kingdom, further aligning with our Vision 2030 ambitions,” said Crown Prince Mohammed. “It will contribute to Saudi Arabia’s regional trade and commerce and help create a new focal point for global trade flows. I am pleased to see this development.”
8. Trojena, a year-round ski village
Nestled between the imposing mountains of the Tabuk region in Saudi Arabia, Trojena, 33 times the size of New York City, is a luxurious megaproject complete with an artificial lake, luxury residences, and wellness resorts. Adrenaline junkies will thoroughly enjoy the ski village, which offers a range of sports, a ski slope, mountain biking, and water sports. This year-round outdoor skiing and adventure destination is bidding to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 and will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
Masterplanned by the German studio LAVA, Trojena will also be home to a spectacular supertall skyscraper designed by the UK’s Zaha Hadid Architects, The Discovery Tower. “People will experience both the architecture and the natural landscape simultaneously – there’s a holistic harmony to the different components of the master plan that creates diversity and variety, enriching the daily lives of residents,” MBS said.
7. Sindalah, a luxurious horse-shaped island
With Sindalah, a seahorse-shaped luxury island, Saudi Crown Prince MBS aims to recreate the French Riviera in the Gulf. Expected to open in early 2024, this leading superyacht destination in the Red Sea will be the first leg of Saudi Arabia’s national tourism strategy. Featuring a world-class yachting ecosystem with over 5,000 berths, three luxury resorts, a spa, 51 luxury shops, 86 piers, 38 restaurants, and a beach club, the $24 billion project by Luca Dini Design and Architecture spans an 840,000-square-meter island and is a true masterpiece.
“Sindalah will be Neom’s first luxury island and yacht club destination in the Red Sea, offering a scenic gateway to the region and becoming its most exciting and attractive tourism location,” said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “It will be a destination where travelers can experience the true beauty of Neom and Saudi Arabia, above and below the water, making Sindalah the future of luxury travel.”
6. Leyja, a terrific trio of hospitality
Two is company, and three is Leyja!” Leyja, pioneering and beautiful, is a project nestled amidst 400-meter-high mountains. It boasts three environmentally sustainable hotels, offering a total of 120 boutique rooms and suites. The Adventure Hotel, set in rugged terrain, will appeal to rock climbers.
The Oasis Hotel captures the essence of the Wadi, while the Wellness Hotel showcases the captivating beauty of the valley walls. This terrific trio of high-end boutique hotels, designed by Shaun Killa, Mario Cucinella, and Chris van Duijn, will be a hub of high-octane activities, fine dining, rooftop infinity-style pools, helipads, gyms, and opportunities for exploring the surrounding environment through hiking and mountain biking.
5. Epicon, dramatic and dazzling skyscraper
The most distinctive structure in Neom City will be Epicon. This project dramatically emerges from the desert in the form of two striking, futuristic towers, standing 738 and 900 feet tall, respectively. Designed by 10Design, these jagged, interconnected skyscrapers will house an ultra-premium luxury hotel with 41 keys and opulent residences featuring 14 suites and apartments. Additionally, Epicon will feature a resort with 120 rooms and 45 beachfront villas.
Neom’s statement described it as “A highly attractive visitor destination and an optimum place to live and thrive. Guests and residents of Epicon can expect a truly immersive and life-affirming experience. The luxurious residences and beach villas aim to deliver new levels of livability through cutting-edge innovations, world-class services, and first-class experiences, positioning the resort as a benchmark for iconic living.”
4. Siranna, an oasis of opulence
There is beauty in naturalness, and Siranna is proof of this. This tourist development on the Gulf of Aqaba is not just a palatial hotel but a very natural-looking, hexagonal-pillar-shaped hotel designed by architecture studio Woods Bagot. It appears incredibly mystical, almost like an extension of its natural surroundings. The 65-room hotel is complemented by an additional 35 private residences, accessible only from the sea. Sirnanna, akin to the Maldives of Saudi Arabia, is best explored on foot or horseback.
Offering restaurants, beach clubs, spas, and wellness facilities, there is never a dull moment for the excited tourists. Neom states, “Emerging from the rugged coastal terrain, the hexagonal pillars are distinctive, yet complementary to the surrounding mountains and flora. The architecture pays homage to the heritage of the local area and seamlessly blends into the adjoining mountain and wadi.”
3. Utamo, surreal entertainment venue
Utamo, a theatre, music, and magic venue built inside a mountain, will have it all to become the world’s leading entertainment destination.
The magic begins as soon as one steps foot in Utamo, with floral promenades, a formidable grand hall with 210-foot-high ceilings, a multipurpose performance space, VIP lounges, and luxury restaurants.
2. Norlana, a striking coastal community
By the end of 2023, Saudi Arabia’s finance minister suggested budget cuts and putting brakes on the rapid pace of developments. Even this did not stop the emergence of a luxury coastal lifestyle community megaproject named Norlana. Set to be home to 3,000 fortunate residents, it will feature 711 waterfront properties, a golf course, an equestrian club, and a marina with 120 berths for superyachts on the Gulf of Aqaba.
“Historically, settlements have been founded by water, and so the heart of Norlana is the marina,” said Chris Jones, managing principal at 10 Design. “It’s this bowl of vibrancy from which you can migrate to the different communities.” An 18-hole golf course, equestrian club, and tennis club will also be part of Norlana.
1. Aquellum, an architectural marvel
An upside-down mountain built into a 1500-foot-tall mountain exemplifies the out-of-the-box vision of the Kingdom’s bold visionaries. Aquellum is an oasis of luxury nestled far away from the rigors of routine. A boat sails through a canal to first reach a floating marina, the only one of its kind in the world.
Next comes an intriguing 100-meter-high vertical experience with an impressive courtyard. Aquellum offers top-notch hotel accommodations and luxurious apartments, retail spaces, leisure, and entertainment zones. “Aquellum is an ultra-luxury upside-down skyscraper,” said Alexander Rieck, co-founder of LAVA. “The façade faces inward instead of outward. Things are inside-out and upside-down. Normally, architecture is focused on the outside.”
The Gulf of Aqaba in Saudi Arabia, long untouched, is now witnessing the emergence of several projects in this oil-rich nation, transforming the region to not only look fabulous but also futuristic. In addition to the projects mentioned above, NEOM has registered a series of trademarks, including Treyam, Jaumur, Gidori, Xaynor, Elanan in the travel category, and Magna and Safana in entertainment, leisure, and amusement.
