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- Everything we know about Neom, a 'mega-city' project in Saudi Arabia with plans for flying cars and robot dinosaurs
Everything we know about Neom, a 'mega-city' project in Saudi Arabia with plans for flying cars and robot dinosaurs
Neom is a portmanteau of the Greek word neos, meaning "new," and mustaqbal, the Arabic word for "future."
![Everything we know about Neom, a 'mega-city' project in Saudi Arabia with plans for flying cars and robot dinosaurs](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-71232438%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-510630%2Fneom-is-a-portmanteau-of-the-greek-word-neos-meaning-new-and-mustaqbal-the-arabic-word-for-future-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
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.
![It will cover 10,230 square miles, and cost Saudi Arabia](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232437,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1019471/it-will-cover-10230-square-miles-and-cost-saudi-arabias-public-investment-fund-at-least-500-billion-plus-millions-in-foreign-investment-if-it-can-get-it-.jpg)
Source: Business Insider
Neom is part of Vision 2030: an ambitious plan to revolutionize Saudi society, reduce dependence on oil, and make the country a technology hub.
![Neom is part of Vision 2030: an ambitious plan to revolutionize Saudi society, reduce dependence on oil, and make the country a technology hub.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232436,width-700,height-525,imgsize-387394/neom-is-part-of-vision-2030-an-ambitious-plan-to-revolutionize-saudi-society-reduce-dependence-on-oil-and-make-the-country-a-technology-hub-.jpg)
Source: Vision 2030
In January 2019, Saudi Arabia set up a company, also called Neom, to be the driving force behind the building effort.
![In January 2019, Saudi Arabia set up a company, also called Neom, to be the driving force behind the building effort.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232435,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1276193/in-january-2019-saudi-arabia-set-up-a-company-also-called-neom-to-be-the-driving-force-behind-the-building-effort-.jpg)
Source: CNBC
In 2017, Neom hired three of the world's largest consultancy firms — McKinsey & Co, Boston Consulting, and Oliver Wyman — to advise. Here's what they came up with.
![In 2017, Neom hired three of the world](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232434,width-700,height-525,imgsize-678700/in-2017-neom-hired-three-of-the-worlds-largest-consultancy-firms-mckinsey-co-boston-consulting-and-oliver-wyman-to-advise-heres-what-they-came-up-with-.jpg)
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Neom is supposed to draw on "cloud seeding" technology to make artificial clouds which will produce more rainfall than naturally possible in the desert.
![Neom is supposed to draw on "cloud seeding" technology to make artificial clouds which will produce more rainfall than naturally possible in the desert.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232432,width-700,height-525,imgsize-87635/neom-is-supposed-to-draw-on-cloud-seeding-technology-to-make-artificial-clouds-which-will-produce-more-rainfall-than-naturally-possible-in-the-desert-.jpg)
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Neom will also have the "leading education system on the planet," with classes taught by holographic teachers, officials say.
![Neom will also have the "leading education system on the planet," with classes taught by holographic teachers, officials say.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232431,width-700,height-525,imgsize-584904/neom-will-also-have-the-leading-education-system-on-the-planet-with-classes-taught-by-holographic-teachers-officials-say-.jpg)
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Another idea is a 'Jurassic Park'-like island for tourists with robotic dinosaurs.
![Another idea is a](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232430,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1383502/another-idea-is-a-jurassic-park-like-island-for-tourists-with-robotic-dinosaurs-.jpg)
Source: The Wall Street Journal
At night Neom is supposed to be illuminated by a giant artificial moon.
![At night Neom is supposed to be illuminated by a giant artificial moon.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232429,width-700,height-525,imgsize-43756/at-night-neom-is-supposed-to-be-illuminated-by-a-giant-artificial-moon-.jpg)
Source: The Wall Street Journal
People will get about using flying taxis, Saudi officials say.
![People will get about using flying taxis, Saudi officials say.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232428,width-700,height-525,imgsize-935358/people-will-get-about-using-flying-taxis-saudi-officials-say-.jpg)
Neom is working on the notion that, in the future, driving cars will just be for fun, and no longer a method of transportation.
So people might drive a Ferrari to the coast, but not drive themselves to work.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Neom residents will — according to the plan — be able to choose from more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than in any other city.
![Neom residents will — according to the plan — be able to choose from more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than in any other city.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232426,width-700,height-525,imgsize-100444/neom-residents-will-according-to-the-plan-be-able-to-choose-from-more-michelin-starred-restaurants-per-capita-than-in-any-other-city-.jpg)
Source: The Wall Street Journal
The Red Sea coastline will be altered, according to the plans, with glow-in-the-dark sand added to its beaches.
![The Red Sea coastline will be altered, according to the plans, with glow-in-the-dark sand added to its beaches.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232425,width-700,height-525,imgsize-943338/the-red-sea-coastline-will-be-altered-according-to-the-plans-with-glow-in-the-dark-sand-added-to-its-beaches-.jpg)
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Construction work has already started on Neom Bay, phase one of the mega-city.
![Construction work has already started on Neom Bay, phase one of the mega-city.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232424,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1143714/construction-work-has-already-started-on-neom-bay-phase-one-of-the-mega-city-.jpg)
Neom Bay is due to become a residential area with "white beaches, a mild climate and an attractive investment environment," the Saudi Press Agency said.
Its completion date has been set for some time in 2020.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
Some progress has already been made: Neom Airport is nearly finished, and has already been registered as an official international airport.
![Some progress has already been made: Neom Airport is nearly finished, and has already been registered as an official international airport.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232423,width-700,height-525,imgsize-568064/some-progress-has-already-been-made-neom-airport-is-nearly-finished-and-has-already-been-registered-as-an-official-international-airport-.jpg)
The inaugural flight landed there in June.
Source: Saudi Gazette
Neom used a photo of Singapore's Gardens by the Bay in their marketing materials, suggesting they'll likely draw inspiration from the South Asian city.
![Neom used a photo of Singapore](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232422,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1231561/neom-used-a-photo-of-singapores-gardens-by-the-bay-in-their-marketing-materials-suggesting-theyll-likely-draw-inspiration-from-the-south-asian-city-.jpg)
The Saudi government is already hosting events at the site of Neom to generate investment and media attention.
![The Saudi government is already hosting events at the site of Neom to generate investment and media attention.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232421,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1471440/the-saudi-government-is-already-hosting-events-at-the-site-of-neom-to-generate-investment-and-media-attention-.jpg)
Source: Insider
The future of the project is in flux, however. After the murder of Saudi-US journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, reportedly said: “No one will invest for years."
![The future of the project is in flux, however. After the murder of Saudi-US journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, reportedly said: “No one will invest for years."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-71232420,width-700,height-525,imgsize-713259/the-future-of-the-project-is-in-flux-however-after-the-murder-of-saudi-us-journalist-jamal-khashoggi-the-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-reportedly-said-no-one-will-invest-for-years-.jpg)
Source: Financial Times
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