"NEOM" - what the heck is it?

[Brisketexan 105168]

So, on social media, I am getting ads and images for "Neom," and their mountain resort region, "Trojena."  All can be found at Neom.com.  Here are some images of what Neom is (or, rather, the concept of what it will be):

 

It has multiple "zones" -- the above is Trojena, another is "the Line," which appears to be their urban concept.

Turns out it is some conceptual project by......the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

Quote

THE LINE is a never-before-seen approach to urbanization – a 170km-long linear urban development of multiple, hyper-connected communities, with walkable neighborhoods integrated with public parks and the natural landscape. It is a model of urban design and livability in harmony with nature for the 21st century and beyond.

THE LINE will reshape the traditional concept of urban life, enabling NEOM to become an economic engine for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the region, and the world.

THE LINE will create 380,000 new jobs, spur economic diversification and contribute SAR 180bn to domestic GDP by 2030.

Powered by 100% renewable energy, the principles of environmental responsibility will be enshrined in business regulations to promote sustainable and regenerative development practices.

All essential daily needs will be within a five-minute walk.

Communities will be built around people, not cars, easily accessible and designed for convenience and walkability, creating vistas of beauty and tranquility.

THE LINE is supported by a physical and digital infrastructure layer seamlessly integrated beneath the surface and containing essential utilities and transportation services.

The infrastructure spine will include ultra-high-speed mass transit access to the communities along THE LINE.

Communities will live in harmony with nature, where open space, parks, gardens, the natural environment and sustainable food production are mixed seamlessly.

All businesses and communities on THE LINE are hyper-connected through a digital framework incorporating Artificial Intelligence and robotics that continuously learn and grow – over 90% of the data in NEOM will be analyzed to provide a predictive system with ever-improving services to residents and businesses.

The communities will be self-sufficient and reflect the personality of their residents, the region and the industries within them.

 

So....other than some sweet conceptual renderings, and a glitzy webpage, what in the blue hell is this?  Is there anything real about it?  Will anything like this ever happen?  And what the hell is it doing in Saudi Arabia, not exactly the most progressive place on earth?  And will I be able to get good falafel there, because.....I'm listening.

[Shaddie 1651]

SA is just staking their claim to parts of Russia after Putin gets croaked, and Russia has to sell large parcels of land to do UA reparations. Smart move. 

[JerrysJheriCurl 977]

Neom is the pride of all the Saudi folk I hang with and know. Essentially they are building the most modern futuristic digital green city… module by module. 

Keep that feria burn rate going sadiki, for all I care, as I tell my folk. 

I could go on with more, but I am a sure the Google machine can help you. Googlelealo. 

And not falafel my good man. It’s called tamiya in KSA. Kabsah is what they are really known for. Also try some kibbeh and mandi. Sambusaks are just Saudi empanadas, and almost as good.

[Brisketexan 105168]

2 minutes ago, JerrysJheriCurl said:

Neom is the pride of all the Saudi folk I hang with and know. Essentially they are building the most modern futuristic digital green city… module by module. 

Keep that feria burn rate going sadiki, for all I care, as I tell my folk. 

I could go on with more, but I am a sure the Google machine can help you. Googlelealo. 

And not falafel my good man. It’s called tamiya in KSA. Kabsah is what they are really known for. Also try some kibbeh and mandi. Sambusaks are just Saudi empanadas, and almost as good.

It all sounds delicious to me (esp. kabsah).  But I mean, is this really happening, or is it pie-in-the-sky bullshit?  And....it will be under Saudi jurisdiction, so.....lotsa drawbacks there.

[ATexanAbroad 627]

well if you want this, it already exists naturally in the Bay of Kotor, Montengro

[atomheartbevo 89750]

12 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

It all sounds delicious to me (esp. kabsah).  But I mean, is this really happening, or is it pie-in-the-sky bullshit?  And....it will be under Saudi jurisdiction, so.....lotsa drawbacks there.

Some of it is.  They are trying to get outsiders to invest.

They definitely want to do it/make it their legacy.

[JerrysJheriCurl 977]

Oh it’s been happening for a while now. I think the “deadline” is 2023. I forget because they moved it. 
Look up Vision 2030 to understand it a bit more. 
And @atomheartbevois correct. It’s more of an ego/legacy thing than anything else. 
Most empires have made a city or site a feature, and get all fancy about it.

They want to be/act like the empire they are not. 
I guess if you can’t dance, try and fake it. 
#PincheKhaleeji

Edited March 25, 2022 by JerrysJheriCurl

[Brisketexan 105168]

1 minute ago, atomheartbevo said:

Some of it is.  They are trying to get outsiders to invest.

They definitely want to do it/make it their legacy.

Ok.....I really do find this fascinating.  And I still have a hard time with the sales pitch of "invest in this utopia-type vision of a place, come live here......but remember, you'll be under the jurisdiction of an islamist monarchy that gives zero fucks about anything approaching the rule of law."  That's a big fucking hurdle when you're asking for me to stick my money and my life someplace.  And as for me personally, I can't see how they could clear it.

[Pato del Muerto 52532]

Is it westworld?

[jeevsie 3735]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't like seeing high stress areas that have sharp corners.

[Upgrayedd 5815]

1 minute ago, jeevsie said:

Maybe it's just me, but I don't like seeing high stress areas that have sharp corners.

It's only holding back 62.4 #/cf

[clapclapclap 9000]

If you lose your one and only
There's always room there for the lonely
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams
Of a NEOM moon

Edited March 25, 2022 by clapclapclap
Yes, that idiotic dam makes me want to root for the Houthi and the blowfish

[RDCanecutter 26455]

If I crave lush greenery and water and even more freedom than Saudi Arabia, Mississippi is ready whenever I am.

[F250 28792]

21 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Is it westworld?

If they have a Talulah Riley sex robot I will pre-order my ticket now.

 

[Deej 76855]

Will Texas have a winning football program in this utopia?

[WBT 20638]

2 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

So....other than some sweet conceptual renderings, and a glitzy webpage, what in the blue hell is this?  Is there anything real about it?  Will anything like this ever happen? 

Inshallah.  Also the answer you get when you ask any Saudi tech to do anything.

1 hour ago, JerrysJheriCurl said:

Kabsah is what they are really known for. 

They brought in some huge dishes of this to celebrate after our plant was up and running.  Kind of strange having everyone sitting in circles on the floor of the control room eating with their hands.  It wasn't bad but kind of bland.

1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

Ok.....I really do find this fascinating.  And I still have a hard time with the sales pitch of "invest in this utopia-type vision of a place, come live here......but remember, you'll be under the jurisdiction of an islamist monarchy that gives zero fucks about anything approaching the rule of law."  That's a big fucking hurdle when you're asking for me to stick my money and my life someplace.  And as for me personally, I can't see how they could clear it.

Never stopped any American based multi-nationals

Edited March 25, 2022 by WBT

[Not that Bob 739]

Just buy a place in Coon's new project on Lake Austin. The condo won't look like a sideways pussy on a hillside, but at least you'll have some trees.

[Guest Lobo]

Who is coon?  

[Not that Bob 739]

1-800Contacts.

[Guest Lobo]

Wow.  Lotta money in 800-numbers.  I should have listened to Don Lapree.  

[Mole 4333]

[Willfully Horn 8039]

I’m impressed that SA is now including liquor stores in its development plans.

5 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

All essential daily needs will be within a five-minute walk.

 

 

[Guest Lobo]

Oh right, like a linguistics professor is gonna step out on a ledge and lecture us on the excesses of terra-formed luxury housing.  What does he give a shit about how the 1% operate?  He's a linguistics man for chrissakes! 

[Sawbonz 27580]

4 hours ago, clapclapclap said:

If you lose your one and only
There's always room there for the lonely
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams
Of a NEOM moon

[Macanudo 12999]

49 minutes ago, Lobo said:

Oh right, like a linguistics professor is gonna step out on a ledge and lecture us on the excesses of terra-formed luxury housing.  What does he give a shit about how the 1% operate?  He's a linguistics man for chrissakes! 

I was sitting here thinking "What the fuck does Chomsky have to do with any of this?"

Then, duh.   I get it.  This place will be lifeless, mundane, turgid and incredibly pedantic. 

[Guest Lobo]

1 minute ago, Macanudo said:

I was sitting here thinking "What the fuck does Chomsky have to do with any of this?"

Then, duh.   I get it.  This place will be lifeless, mundane, turgid and incredibly pedantic. 

You know what?  You sound like the fucking self-righteous governor of a fucking Dakota with your bullshit! 

[Steel Shank 9428]

Brisket, just look at it as another opportunity for pipe laying.

[Ten Bears 2481]

On 3/25/2022 at 4:38 PM, jeevsie said:

Maybe it's just me, but I don't like seeing high stress areas that have sharp corners.

Or the obtuse angles.

[phdhorn 6224]

On 3/25/2022 at 5:21 PM, Deej said:

Will Texas have a winning football program in this utopia?

Yes, they've promised never to schedule Kansas or Maryland.

[Elvis 3371]

That place looks like this place....

 

[Macanudo 12999]

We're doomed to Bollywood?

[Trey3216 15349]

On 3/25/2022 at 9:23 PM, Macanudo said:

I was sitting here thinking "What the fuck does Chomsky have to do with any of this?"

Then, duh.   I get it.  This place will be lifeless, mundane, turgid and incredibly pedantic. 

Thanks Rene

[52-80 19203]

https://www.zombo.com/

[Braff Zacklin 13631]

Whenever I see projects like this in the Middle East, including the Burj Khalifa in UAE, the Palm and World islands (also in UAE), and the impending World Cup in Qatar, I am reminded of one of my favorite moments from the movie Syriana:

[Earl Haffler 597]

I thought it was a hot governor.

[Bullneck 19184]

On 3/25/2022 at 4:23 PM, Brisketexan said:

So, on social media, I am getting ads and images for "Neom," and their mountain resort region, "Trojena."  All can be found at Neom.com.  Here are some images of what Neom is (or, rather, the concept of what it will be):

 

It has multiple "zones" -- the above is Trojena, another is "the Line," which appears to be their urban concept.

Turns out it is some conceptual project by......the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

 

So....other than some sweet conceptual renderings, and a glitzy webpage, what in the blue hell is this?  Is there anything real about it?  Will anything like this ever happen?  And what the hell is it doing in Saudi Arabia, not exactly the most progressive place on earth?  And will I be able to get good falafel there, because.....I'm listening.

I know some construction and real estate people from the US working in SA.  There's a lot of mind boggling shit getting built in certain parts of the globe (a lot of it in China).  Just because we've lost our mojo when it comes to "make no small plans" stuff doesn't mean everyone else has.  Can you imagine trying to build an interstate highway system or Hoover Dam these days?  That's what I thought.  

Quote

Norman Foster steps back from Saudi tech city over journalist's murder

British architect Norman Foster, founder of Foster + Partners, has temporarily suspended himself from the advisory board of Saudi Arabia's Neom project, in response to Jamal Khashoggi's murder. More

India Block | 23 October 2018 | 12 comments

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by Bullneck

[WhatTheBuck 28793]

It’s a trap!