Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman paved the way for the future with the $1.5 trillion Neom project, despite critics and detractors. How could this incredible, futuristic, groundbreaking gigaproject be called anything else if not the future? Neom City has brought the future into the present, and the Crown Prince chose a name so apt it got the world talking. Naming something that would become a beacon of futuristic thinking, pioneering visions, and a new way of life was no small task.
A series of discussions were held about the significance of the name, aiming to reflect the project’s global identity, human dimension, and remarkable ambition. On the Crown Prince’s insistence, one rule was established—the name should be neither Eastern nor Western and not tied to a specific language or culture, as Neom was always meant to be a global destination.
The list of options featured 2,000 names, which were cut down to 150, and finally to five. The name that was zeroed in on was “NEO MSTACBEL,” with MSTACBEL short for Media, Sport, Technology, and Energy. The complicated word was shortened to the letter M, symbolizing two things: the first letter of the Arabic word for future (mustaqbal) and the first letter of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s name, according to Neom’s statement.
The letter “M” was then merged with “NEO,” from the Greek language, meaning new—a perfect title for a development that is new in thought, execution, and result. “NEOM” was thus formed and unanimously agreed upon by the Board.
