Unpicking Bloomberg’s Latest Report on NEOM
Article cites mystery officials without pointing out what is happening on the ground at other projects.
US news outlet Bloomberg has published a report saying NEOM has revised its mid-term objectives for the NEOM giga-project, citing people familiar with the matter, not naming them.
The US media outfit’s report The Line, the large linear city in the desert, is now expected to house less than 300,000 residents by 2030, compared with a previously stated 1.5mn people.
The report suggested that only 2.4 kilometres of The Line will be ready by 2030, far short of its 170-kilometre original plan.
At least one contractor has begun to reduce its workforce on the site, it added.
However, as we have reportedly reported, NEOM projects and jobs are still coming online at break-neck speeds, including the recent announcements of the Treyam tourism complex.
To counter that winding down narrative, Trojena, the first outdoor Saudi winter resort, as previously noted in our writing, is still on track with the organization recruiting through the main NEOM portal, while other projects, including Sindalah, are actively recruiting in neighbouring countries, including the United Arab Emirates, for staff.
Last December, the US media outfit reported that the kingdom had delayed some of the projects launched as part of its economic transformation plan past 2030, quoting Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan.
Sindalah the first to open
As the only blog covering NEOM and the broader collection of giga-developments across Saudi Arabia, we can confidently say that Saudi Arabia is not scaling back NEOM but likely diversifying with projects, as we have previously pointed out above.
As mentioned in the Bloomberg piece, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) has pushed ahead with projects, including Sindalah, which will go online this summer, according to the latest images coming out.
A quick scan of social media and job website confirm this fact, with companies now at the hiring stage for roles, including chefs for Artelier House Hospitality this week.
Meanwhile, we have seen several posts about the Sindalah Island Marriott Hotel now officially opening on April 5.
Earlier, it was repeated that OMEN by Beefbar is also opening at Sindalah island as part of the first group of companies to cater for tourists coming in. The company is already reported in several branches in the region, including Riyadh and Dubai, to name a few locations globally.
For more information and details on the specifics of NEOM and other projects across Saudi Arabia, follow NEMNNA on all the usual channels!