Neom: The reality strikes back

real_aurgathor

There have been at least a couple of threads about Neom some time ago on DSLR – yes, the Saudis have lots of money, but their plan for their grandiose line was a bit non-sensical, no matter what.

Saudi Arabia’s 100-Mile Skyscraper Is Turning Into a Disaster. Who could’ve seen this coming?

The Saudi crown family’s megalomaniac dreams of building a gigantic city of the future in the middle of the desert are getting a brutal reality check.

Saudi Arabia’s plans for Neom, a futuristic fever dream which includes a massive all-inclusive resort on the coast, a second ski resort in the mountains, and an up to 106 miles-long pair of 1,600-foot skyscrapers called The Line, is running into major financial problems.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, capital expenditure estimates to build Neom to what officials call its “end-state” by 2080 have ballooned to $8.8 trillion, which is over 25 times the kingdom’s annual budget.

Worse yet, an audit report reviewed by the newspaper found that officials were trying to fudge the numbers to hide evidence of the project’s ballooning costs. The audit found “evidence of deliberate manipulation” of finances by “certain members of management.”

It’s a damning new development that highlights the grandiose and unrealistic goals set by Neom’s main advocate, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

https://futurism.com/saudi-arabia-100-mile-skyscraper-disaster

HooRU

Instead of building crap, give women full rights and don’t kill Filipino workers.

px_eliezer_

HooRU

Unfortunately, full rights for women in Saudi (even ¾ rights) are as unlikely as the success of Neom.

HooRU

Do you guys know about the Arab maid abuse issue? It’s hideous, the women are raped, not paid, beaten, forced to sleep on the floor, locked in 24/7, refused the right to go home. And the laborers suffer equal abuse. In Dubai is is really bad. I stopped my spouse from going there, she was kidnapped to be a slave worker but she escaped.

real_aurgathor

px_eliezer_

I’m not planing to argue on women’s right since I consider that a little off topic, but they do have more rights than, say, 50 years ago.

As for the success of Neom – at best, it might take a little (?!) while to reach what was originally envisioned, but they may never get that far. I don’t think it will be totally abandoned, but significantly scaled back instead with the promises of “future completion”.

In addition, they can just “redefine” success. 😉
They could conceivably build a km or two close to the sea shore with some amenities and call it success.

There is a reason why bigger cities often have a circular, or some other type of relatively compact shape. (terrain permitting)