Saudi Arabia to build a futuristic, sustainable city with 170 km glass walls alongwith world's largest floating structure

The multi-trillion dollar project is to include ports and enterprise sectors, research centres, sports and entertainment venues and tourism centres. The project will cover 26,500 square kilometres and a range of sectors, including industrial and logistics sectors, planned for completion in 2025.

The word NEOM is derived from "NEO MSTACBEL," in which the initials MSTACBEL stand for potential areas of development such as media, sports, technology, and energy. It was later merged with the initial of the Crown Prince’s name - Prince "Mohammed" bin Salman. The letter "M" was a part of the earlier "NEO" thus making it "NEOM", which is located on the Red Sea in northwestern Saudi Arabia, spread across 26,500 square kilometres, and made up of 41 coastal islands.

There are plans to set up a network of airports in NEOM, including an international airport called Nom Bay Airport in the northern region of Sharma. This airport opened last year and operated regular flights for investors and employees on the Neom project.NEOM's chief urban development officer, Antoine Vives, said the international airport, one of the world's most significant, would be ready before 2030.

NEOM is designed to inspire alternative ways of living. The city is set to save 95 percent of the site's natural environment. All energy in NEOM will be 100 percent renewable -- from solar, wind and hydrogen-based electricity generation -- ensuring a zero-emissions, carbon-positive ecosystem. NEOM will be a regional powerhouse in water production and storage based on water desalination. The high-tech interoperable, modular system will attract water-related research companies and start-ups to innovate and lead in all areas of the water industry.

The construction of the trade and technology centre is expected to contribute $48bn to the state's GDP and create 380,000 jobs.

It is on this background that Saudi Arabia plans to build a futuristic, sustainable city with 170 km glass walls and world's largest floating structure wherein the water distribution network of NEOM will be fully connected through an advanced Internet of Water infrastructure to ensure minimum water loss, putting NEOM at the forefront of water technology.

With approximately 56 percent of the world's population now living in cities, urban sustainability and public welfare have become a growing concern for governments around the world. To address these challenges, Saudi Arabia is boldly experimenting. On Monday, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans for The Line - one of several mega-projects as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 reform and economic diversification plan.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the design would clarify the internal structure of the multi-level city and solve the problems of traditional horizontal flat towns, creating harmony between urban development and the conservation of nature. During the announcement, the Crown Prince said that The Line would achieve an "ideal life" and solve humanity's immediate challenges. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the initial idea and approach, redefining the concept of urban development and what future cities should look like.

The line design includes how urban communities might look in the future in an environment free of roads, cars and emissions. "NEOM is one of the most important projects of Saudi Vision 2030, and the line is a confirmation of our firm commitment to present a project to the entire world. NEOM is a place for those who dream of a better tomorrow," he said.

The Crown Prince said the project, which offers a new approach to urban design, will run on 100 percent renewable energy and prioritise the people's health.

With these advanced hi-tech infrastructure projects, Saudi Arabia seeks to take a prominent position as the technology leader in the region. They have great potential to benefit from these deployments and would do well to blend technological innovations with job creation and solving day-to-day problems.