In particular, new information has emerged about the construction of this urban wonder with a length of 170 km and a height of 500 m. At the forum, a representative of the project announced that this year the laying of the foundations of the first stage of the “reclining skyscraper“ will begin and specified when the first residents will appear.
The Neom complex will cover an area approximately equal to the size of Belgium. In addition to this, the project will include the construction of skyscrapers and the creation of outdoor recreation areas. The complex, by the way, is being built in close proximity to the Suez Canal, one of the most important maritime arteries in the world. This plays a key role in providing a complex that should ultimately meet the daily needs of nine million residents.
The project organizers assume that in the foreseeable future oil will cease to bring superprofits and Neom should become a source of income through tourism. For now, the project brings benefits to cement and metal producers. Neom is said to already consume 20% of the world's steel production, used for reinforcement, pylons, foundations and concrete structures.
The first stage of the line will be 2.4 km long. Pylons are currently being driven in specifically for the foundation, with concrete pouring expected to begin later this year. The construction of the site is planned to be completed by 2030, and 300,000 people will be able to live there.
The city will be controlled by artificial intelligence at all levels. The entire transport infrastructure will be exclusively electric. Ideally, the city's electricity supply will be provided solely by solar and wind energy, but backup diesel generators and possibly other energy sources are planned - this remains an open question.
Discussing the prospects for the settlement of the complex, the organizers emphasize its long-term nature and are not afraid that it may take even a hundred years. The main thing is to start, and success, they believe, will be ensured by the uniqueness of the project.