Satellite images reveal a luxurious palace as part of Saudi Arabia’s Neom megacity project, attributed to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Located on the Red Sea, the palace features private beaches, gardens, a golf course, and helipads. Neom aims to diversify the Saudi economy, but there are challenges in foreign investment and human rights concerns.
Satellite images obtained by Business Insider reveal significant advancements in Saudi Arabia’s Neom project, particularly showcasing a luxurious palace attributed to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Located along the Red Sea in northeastern Saudi Arabia, this expansive palace includes private beaches, extensive gardens, a golf course, and ten helipads. These features align with earlier reports indicating a complex of royal palaces planned for the region under Neom’s framework.
The satellite imagery captured by Maxar Technologies illustrates the palace’s opulent design, which is said to incorporate Moroccan-style architecture. According to data from a 2018 Reuters report, plans for the palace project were among the initial contracts awarded under Neom, highlighting the ambition behind the initiative. However, concrete information about the palace remains limited.
Neom serves as the cornerstone of Crown Prince Mohammed’s strategy to diversify the Saudi economy by pivoting from oil dependency to embracing technology and tourism. This megacity project encompasses other ambitious developments, like “The Line,” a 110-mile vertical city. However, concerns have been raised regarding Neom’s environmental impact, design choices, and human rights issues.
Originally targeted for completion by 2030, the entire Line project now looks towards the opening of a 1.5-mile portion known as the “Hidden Marina.” Despite the investment of substantial oil revenues into Neom, there are suggestions that attracting foreign investments has not proceeded as swiftly as hoped, challenging the project’s ambitious timeline. Business Insider reached out to Neom for comments but did not receive a response.
The Neom project in Saudi Arabia represents a monumental shift in the nation’s economic strategy, aiming to transition towards technology and tourism. The lavish palace, likely belonging to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, highlights the project’s ambitious nature, although challenges in attracting foreign investment and concerns about environmental impact and human rights persist. Neom’s future developments like ‘The Line’ underline both the aspirations and complexities surrounding this vast initiative.
Original Source: www.businessinsider.com
