March 10, 2025 - 08:12
Recent reports indicate that Saudi Arabia's ambitious Neom project, a futuristic linear city designed to be carbon-neutral, is spiraling into a financial disaster. Launched eight years ago by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the initiative has encountered significant delays and rampant cost overruns. To date, the kingdom has invested a staggering $50 billion into the project, yet projections suggest that it could take an additional 55 years to complete, with an alarming estimated total cost reaching $8.8 trillion.
An internal audit presented to Neom’s board last summer has raised serious concerns about the viability of this mega-project. The growing financial burden is beginning to draw parallels with historical failures, as critics liken Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s miscalculations to those of Napoleon at Waterloo. As the project continues to struggle, the future of Neom remains uncertain, raising questions about the sustainability of such grandiose visions in the face of overwhelming challenges.
