Mohammed bin Salman. Photo Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters
At the heart of the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia is located Neoma futuristic megacity project recently presented during an exhibition at Hong Kong. This ambitious project, which is the cornerstone of the prince’s Vision 2030 strategy Mohammed bin Salman, aims to reconfigure the Saudi economy away from fossil fuels and towards innovation and technology. However, the scale and costs associated with the project raise concerns about its financial and geopolitical viability.
The Neom project in question
Neom is designed to be a smart and ecological city, spanning thousands of square kilometers and equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure such as “ The Line » — two skyscrapers intended to house nearly nine million people. The project also includes a network of underground tunnels allowing rapid travel between different areas and a ski resort in the middle of the desert. The investment needed to realize these ambitions could reach several trillion dollars, an astronomical sum even for an oil-rich country like Saudi Arabia.
The Sino-Saudi alliance and its risks
The exhibition in Hong Kong also highlighted growing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and surveillance technologies. This alliance with the Chinawho sees in Neom a vast field of economic opportunities, nevertheless arouses concern among States–United according to Business Insider. The Biden administration, while seeking to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israelurges Riyadh to limit its technological interactions with Beijing, especially because of the implications in terms of security and data protection.
Surveillance technologies: a double-edged sword
The use of Chinese surveillance technology, which is less protective of personal data, makes Neom attractive to some, but raises important ethical questions. The city is envisioned not only as a model of sustainable development but also as a surveillance center where residents’ movements and data could be closely monitored and controlled. This prospect, according to some analysts, could transform Neom into a “ surveillance city“, where technology serves more to control than to liberate its inhabitants.
Although Neom represents a bold vision for Saudi Arabia’s economic and technological future, the associated risks are significant. Between gigantic financial challenges and geopolitical complications, particularly with the United States, Saudi Arabia could find itself navigating turbulent waters. The decisions taken by Riyadh in the coming years will not only determine Neom’s destiny but could also redefine its international alliances and its place on the global stage. The balance between bold innovation and intrusive surveillance will be crucial to the success or failure of this pharaonic project.
