The dark reality of Neom’s shining vision

The Saudi regime describes Neom as “the future of sport” and “humanity’s next chapter”, but beneath the allure lies a history of displacement, oppression, and, for some, death.

In 2020, The Guardian reported that the development of Neom was accompanied by “threats, forced eviction and bloodshed.”

In October 2022, Saudi Arabia’s Specialised Criminal Court sentenced three members of the Huwaitat tribe to death for opposing the eviction from their ancestral land to make way for the Neom project.

In May 2023, UN experts voiced grave concern over the imminent risk of these executions and urged the Kingdom’s authorities to halt the process and investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment.

In 2023, the human rights organisation ALQST released the report ‘The Dark Side of Neom’ which details the extent of expropriation, expulsion and prosecution of the region’s original inhabitants.

In June 2024, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) filed formal complaints with the International Labour Organization (ILO) which accused Saudi construction companies involved in Neom’s development of severe human rights abuses and wage theft affecting at least 21,000 workers.

In October 2024, ITV’s documentary ‘Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia’ exposed further exploitation including grueling 16-hour workdays, denial of leave, and inadequate living conditions.