Forget being happy, Saudi Crown Prince MBS was so furious with the state of Sindalah luxury island when it opened that the project's CEO was dismissed. The sea-horse shaped island was unveiled in a grand party attended by A-list stars and glitzy superyachts.

As Sindalah, the superyacht haven, opened its gates, hopes were high that Neom City would become a beacon of modernization and offer a new way of life. It was seen as tangible proof that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s grand visions were more than just ambitious fantasies. Reports of superyachts lining up along the Red Sea to experience the pristine, seahorse-shaped luxury island further fueled the excitement.

However, the man behind this vision, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was reportedly unimpressed. Having witnessed unmatched extravagance and opulence, the royal could easily discern when something failed to meet his lofty standards, and Sindalah, in his opinion, fell short. This was evident when, despite a star-studded beach party featuring global celebrities and a high-profile business convention in Riyadh, Nadhmi al-Nasr, Neom’s chief executive since 2018, was removed from his position.

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Delays, skyrocketing budgets, and underwhelming outcomes were cited as reasons for his termination. If Sindalah, with all its grandeur, couldn’t impress the crown prince, there’s little hope for The Line, a planned linear city encased in mirrors along the Red Sea, especially under Nasr’s leadership. For Prince Mohammed, Neom City and its sub-projects must be groundbreaking; anything less is unacceptable.

Aiman Al-Mudaifer the CEO of Neom was let go

Adding to the controversy, Nasr reportedly rented 40 yachts to inflate attendance at the opening, on top of the 40 privately owned vessels brought by other guests, according to a source cited by The Times. Despite hosting over 80 superyachts, attracting 650 influential figures, and offering world-class culinary experiences, helicopter rides, watersports, and entertainment, Sindalah failed to deliver the “wow factor” expected by the prince.

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The event boasted performances by multi-Grammy award winner Alicia Keys and South African DJ Black Coffee. Tennis legend Rafael Nadal, spotted aboard a superyacht with Jacob Arabo, founder of Jacob & Co, joined the festivities, as did NFL quarterback Tom Brady and numerous members of the Saudi royal family. But even this glittering roster couldn’t elevate Sindalah to the level of excellence demanded by the prince.

As one insider aptly noted, “They’ll need someone who can sell the project and secure investments.” For Nadhmi al-Nasr, it appears he wasn’t that person, and he was dismissed as a result.