The Saudi crown prince revealed his latest vision for Neom, the $1 trillion 'utopian' megacity that critics fear will become a dystopian nightmare

Tom PorterMay 29, 2023, 16:06 IST

This concept image shows the planned design of 'The Line,' a 'vertical skyscraper' from the planned futuristic Saudi Arabian city of Neom that cuts through the desert in the northwest of the country.NEOM

Saudi Arabia unveiled new pictures of the Neom megacity planned by its ruler, Mohammed bin Salman.
They highlight the landscapes surrounding the city, and present it as a vacation paradise.

In a desert in the arid northwest of Saudi Arabia, plans for a trillion-dollar, futuristic megacity are beginning to take shape.

Neom is the brainchild of Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman.

In his bid to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, the crown prince aims to attract billions in investment to Neom, which he envisages as a tourism attraction and global hub for technology and innovation.

In a new set of pictures released by Neom and Unsplash, the city is portrayed as a paradisaical adventure holiday resort.

But activists are warning that that rights are being trampled as Saudi Arabia readies parts of the resort to be opened to visitors.

Let's take a look at the latest images.

Saudi Arabia is seeking to draw millions of tourists to Neom

An photograph released in May 2023 showing a desert canyon in Saudi Arabia where Neom is due to be builtGettyImages/Unsplash/Neom

The city will be built on 10,200 square miles of desert

This promotional photograph shows the Saudi Arabian desert where the city of Neom will be built.NEOM/GettyImages/Unsplash

The coral reefs and hidden wrecks of the Red Sea are presented as among the exotic attractions

An photograph showing a diver in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, near the site of the planned Neom megacityGettyImages/Unsplash/Neom

The first part of Neom slated to be finished is Sindalah, an island due to include yacht marinas and luxury hotels. Officials say it will be opened to visitors from 2024.

A concept image of the island of Sindalah, a planned yachting resort due to form part of the Neom project.NEOM

The first part of Neom slated to be finished is Sindalah, an island due to include yacht marinas and luxury hotels. Officials say it will be opened to visitors from 2024.

The images present the desert site as a place of mystery and wonder

An photograph showing a nighttime view of mountains in the region in northwest Saudi Arabia where planners say Neom will be built.GettyImages/Unsplash/Neom

But the glossy prospectus doesn't tell the whole story, and activists are raising alarm about Saudi Arabia's human-rights record.

A Saudi Arabia flag flies behind barbed wires at the backyard in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 13, 2018Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

And experts told Insider that recent deals with China hint at plans for the sweeping surveillance of Neom residents

Saudi security personnel monitor the hajj pilgrimage from a control room in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, in October 2012.FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

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The Saudi crown prince revealed his latest vision for Neom, the $1 trillion 'utopian' megacity that critics fear will become a dystopian nightmare

Saudi Arabia is seeking to draw millions of tourists to Neom

The city will be built on 10,200 square miles of desert

The coral reefs and hidden wrecks of the Red Sea are presented as among the exotic attractions

The first part of Neom slated to be finished is Sindalah, an island due to include yacht marinas and luxury hotels. Officials say it will be opened to visitors from 2024.

The images present the desert site as a place of mystery and wonder

But the glossy prospectus doesn't tell the whole story, and activists are raising alarm about Saudi Arabia's human-rights record.

And experts told Insider that recent deals with China hint at plans for the sweeping surveillance of Neom residents