Saudi Arabia Reassesses NEOM as Other Vision 2030 Mega-Projects Press Ahead
As NEOM undergoes significant redesign and downsizing, Riyadh advances a broader slate of national flagship developments under Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia’s flagship giga-project NEOM is being substantially recalibrated after years of delays and ballooning costs as part of a broader reassessment of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 development portfolio.
The futuristic Red Sea-coast megacity, originally conceived with The Line at its heart, will be downsized from its early expansive vision and reoriented toward more practical industrial and technological hubs, including AI data centre infrastructure, even as work continues on selected elements such as Trojena.
This shift reflects mounting fiscal pressures, subdued oil revenues and greater emphasis on deliverable returns as Riyadh prioritises preparations for key international events and sustainable growth.
NEOM’s redesign comes amid ongoing investment and construction across Saudi Arabia’s wider giga-project ecosystem, which remains central to Vision 2030’s diversification agenda.
Outside NEOM, the entertainment and tourism megaproject Qiddiya City near Riyadh is advancing, with its Six Flags theme park having opened at the end of 2025 and other attractions such as Aquarabia and a Formula One circuit progressing under the Public Investment Fund’s direction.
The Red Sea Project and its affiliated Amaala luxury destination continue to expand, designed to position Saudi Arabia as a global sustainable tourism hub, while the Diriyah Gate cultural and heritage development near Riyadh is moving forward with significant contracts awarded for attractions including a Royal Opera House and residential districts that blend history with modern hospitality.
Meanwhile, major urban expansions such as New Murabba—with its striking Mukaab architectural landmark now suspended—and Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard and King Salman Park are part of broader efforts to enhance quality of life and diversify urban infrastructure.
Public and private projects including the Jeddah Central development and historic Masar Destination in Mecca also reflect Vision 2030’s multi-sector ambitions.
Some developments outside the official Vision 2030 umbrella also contribute to the kingdom’s transformation landscape, such as the Jeddah Tower skyscraper, which has resumed construction and aims for completion by 2028. Taken together, these initiatives showcase Saudi Arabia’s dual strategy of scaling back overly ambitious concepts like the original NEOM plan while maintaining robust forward momentum across a diversified portfolio of mega and giga projects designed to reposition the economy beyond oil dependency.
The futuristic Red Sea-coast megacity, originally conceived with The Line at its heart, will be downsized from its early expansive vision and reoriented toward more practical industrial and technological hubs, including AI data centre infrastructure, even as work continues on selected elements such as Trojena.
This shift reflects mounting fiscal pressures, subdued oil revenues and greater emphasis on deliverable returns as Riyadh prioritises preparations for key international events and sustainable growth.
NEOM’s redesign comes amid ongoing investment and construction across Saudi Arabia’s wider giga-project ecosystem, which remains central to Vision 2030’s diversification agenda.
Outside NEOM, the entertainment and tourism megaproject Qiddiya City near Riyadh is advancing, with its Six Flags theme park having opened at the end of 2025 and other attractions such as Aquarabia and a Formula One circuit progressing under the Public Investment Fund’s direction.
The Red Sea Project and its affiliated Amaala luxury destination continue to expand, designed to position Saudi Arabia as a global sustainable tourism hub, while the Diriyah Gate cultural and heritage development near Riyadh is moving forward with significant contracts awarded for attractions including a Royal Opera House and residential districts that blend history with modern hospitality.
Meanwhile, major urban expansions such as New Murabba—with its striking Mukaab architectural landmark now suspended—and Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard and King Salman Park are part of broader efforts to enhance quality of life and diversify urban infrastructure.
Public and private projects including the Jeddah Central development and historic Masar Destination in Mecca also reflect Vision 2030’s multi-sector ambitions.
Some developments outside the official Vision 2030 umbrella also contribute to the kingdom’s transformation landscape, such as the Jeddah Tower skyscraper, which has resumed construction and aims for completion by 2028. Taken together, these initiatives showcase Saudi Arabia’s dual strategy of scaling back overly ambitious concepts like the original NEOM plan while maintaining robust forward momentum across a diversified portfolio of mega and giga projects designed to reposition the economy beyond oil dependency.
