Neom (Arabic نيوم, Niyūm) is an urban megaproject in the Tabuk province of northwestern Saudi Arabia. According to the plans, it would feature several areas, including a smart linear eco-city called The Line (Saudi Arabia), a desert ski resort, a floating industrial complex and a super luxury tourist resort. The site is located north of the Red Sea, east of Egypt across the Strait of Tiran, and south of Israel and Jordan.[1] It will cover a total area of ​​26.5 square kilometers (10.2 mi²) and extend 460 km along the Red Sea coast.

Saudi Arabia aims to complete the first section of NEOM by 2025.[2]​[3]​ The project has an estimated cost of $500 billion.[4]​ On January 29, 2019, Saudi Arabia announced the creation of a closed joint-stock company called NEOM with $500 billion.[5]​ The goal of this company, which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund, is to develop the Neom economic zone.[6]​ It is planned that the project will be powered entirely by renewable energy sources.[7]​ Nadhmi Al-Nasr is the general director of the NEOM joint stock company.[6]​.

The scale of the project has generated both controversy and public skepticism. The repression and forced displacement of the local Howeitat tribe and the resistance and death at the hands of the Saudi security forces of one of its members, Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, have tarnished the image of the project.[8]​.

The city was announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 24, 2017. He said it will operate independently of the "existing government framework", with its own tax and labor laws and an autonomous judicial system. In fact, it was announced that it will be the first place in all of Saudi Arabia where men and women will be able to use the same bathing area, something prohibited in the rest of the country.

The initiative emerged from Saudi Vision 2030, a plan that seeks to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil, diversify its economy and develop public service sectors. Consultant Ghanem Nuseibeh stated that Saudi Arabia's intention was to "move from oil to high technology and put the Saudi kingdom at the forefront of technological advances." This is the post-oil era. These countries are trying to flourish beyond oil exports, and those that don't will be left behind."[11] Germany's Klaus Kleinfeld"), former president and CEO of Alcoa Inc., and former president and CEO of Siemens AG, will lead the city's development. Plans call for robots to perform functions such as security, logistics, home delivery and caregiving[12]​ and for the city to be powered solely by wind and solar energy.[10]​ Because the city will be will be designed and built from scratch, other innovations in infrastructure and mobility have been suggested. Planning and construction will begin with $500 billion from the Saudi Public Investment Fund and international investors.[13]​ The first phase of the project is scheduled for 2025.[14]​.