SAUDI Arabia's megalomaniac NEOM was hailed as a bold vision for the future but its "unrealistic" plans may be crashing down amid a sea of controversies, an expert has said. The megacity - costing the Kingdom trillions - promises to transform the nation's economy, reduce its reliance on oil, and position it as a global powerhouse in innovation. 15 Saudi Arabia is investing billions on several megalomaniac projects to be completed by the end of the decade Credit: AFP 15 With Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia wants to expand its economy beyond oil Credit: NEOM 15 An inside view of The Line Credit: AFP 15 But major setbacks will now see The Line stretching a measly 2.
4km Credit: Giles Pendleton FRICS The major development hopes to become a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s desperate aspirations under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030. Through massive investments, the nation revealed its 15 wildly ambitious projects funded by oil billions at an unprecedented rate. Touting with technology that is yet to be invented, the Kingdom aims to build the world's tallest skyscrapers, futuristic cities and even a fake moon.
But NEOM’s light seems to be dimming. Read more on Saudi Arabia NEOM HIDDEN WORLD Plans for ‘upside-down skyscraper’ INSIDE mountain in city 'built on blood' Not only has its flagship project drastically scaled back , but NEOM has been overshadowed by a series of controversies that raised serious questions about its feasibility and ethical foundations. And as the cl.