Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Project as a Testing Ground for Economically Feasible Planned Cities: Case Study

Abstract

The objective of this case study was to examine how the planned city of NEOM in Saudi Arabia can contribute to the country’s economy and sustainability goals. The case study was intended to assess the challenges of planned city projects through the lens of the potential benefits to the host country’s economy. Using data from the project’s official website and relevant publications, it became possible to assess the risk management in urban megaprojects and to explore the issue of sustainable urbanization in the context of NEOM. In order to analyze the data, content analysis and thematic analysis techniques were used which allowed for the identification of patterns and trends in the data and to draw conclusions about the potential contributions of NEOM to Saudi Arabia’s economy and sustainability goals. The findings suggest that NEOM, which aims to be a net-zero carbon city, has attracted significant partners and investors interested in testing renewable energy technologies and infrastructure. The viability of NEOM as a testing ground for sustainable planned cities and their impact on the host country will depend on the ability to effectively balance the potential economic benefits with the risks and costs associated with the project. This study’s results indicate that NEOM represents an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to rebrand its image and participate in the creation of a green future, but its success will depend on fulfilling the investment requirements and managing the project-related challenges.

Leveraging the OECD Framework to Create Policies That Enable Eco-Innovation: A Case study of Neom

“…However, audits of environmental impacts over time will be necessary as these projects scale up to ensure sustainability gains. Neom's zero-carbon building principles adhere to the framework's advocacy for green design 50 . Yet some aspects like high-end amenities may conflict with social equity goals, requiring balanced consideration in the framework's interpretation 51 .…”

“…Neom's unique regulatory charter 59 , Saudi Vision 2030 backdrop 60 , and web of partnerships 61 encapsulate the multi-stakeholder ethos underlining the OECD framework. However, the framework was based on Western institutional norms that may clash with realities in the Middle Eastern context, necessitating adaptive interpretation and application 62 .…”

Development of techno-economic model for rooftop of solar PV in the LINE city of Saudi Arabia

“…Saudi Arabia has launched a plan called Vision 2030. It aims to gradually replace oil-based energy with renewable energy sources [8,9], as well as the establishment of contemporary cities controlled totally by artificial intelligence and dependent on sustainable energy sources, such as NEOM and its subprojects, including the LINE city [10][11][12][13][14]. It is anticipated that renewable energy will contribute 9500 MW of energy by 2023, and solar power will contribute greatly to this goal [15,16].…”

“…As part of this revolutionary development, KSA Vision 2030 unveils ambitious plans for the Saudi government to improve its economy with several projects that go beyond the use of fossil fuels and create a new society dependent on renewable energy, enabling the country to move from an oil-dependent economy to a knowledge-based economy [17][18][19]. In the topographically varied province of Tabuk, on the west coast of the Red Sea, the Saudi Arabian government inaugurated a new city in 2017 (shown in Figure . 1) [14]. It is a smart city with smart technology and a comprehensive tourism destination.…”

“…Figure1. Location of NEOM and its sub-projects (the LINE city) along with other surrounding countries[14] …”