While one Neom partnership begins, another ends after public outrage
There has been both good and bad news for Neom over the past week, as it takes on one major partnership while losing the support of yet another esports league.
US company Bechtel has agreed to provide Neom with a mass transport system, construction, design and project management services.
“The vision for a futuristic, innovative and sustainable ecosystem is unique and bold, and we believe NEOM will change the way new cities are developed by future generations,” said Bechtel.
“We have helped our customers shape the kingdom’s history with many key projects and we are honoured to be a partner in building its future.”
Bechtel, one of the leading contractors in the world, have previously worked on project such as Riyadh Metro and Jubail Industrial City.
However, Neom was also dealt a major blow, as yet another esports league withdrew from a partnership with the project.
BLAST, which runs online tournaments for the online video game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, faced huge pressure from its gamers and supporters after announcing its partnership with Neom several weeks ago.
“We can confirm we have reached a mutual, professional, and respectful agreement with NEOM to terminate our contract,” a BLAST spokesperson said. “BLAST remains focused on increasing access and involvement to esports, and we will continue to seek to expand our global footprint including in the Middle East.”
Neom initially hoped to be an international hub for online video gaming tournaments, but BLAST is the second such league to withdraw from the project in the space of the month, following a similar deal being annulled by Riot Games’ League of Legends European Championship. This was also cancelled following an angry backlash from gamers, unwilling to be complicit in human rights abuses conducted by Neom and Saudi Arabia.
Public pressure is therefore working against Neom. Further pressure would no doubt cause further upsets to the project, and go some way towards demonstrating international opposition to the regime’s pet project.
Never Neom would encourage human rights defenders to inform Bechtel that its support for Neom comes at the price – not only the rights of people like the Huwaitat community who live on land Neom wants to take control over, but also for the company’s standing.
As the world realises the abuses inherent to the regime, the question is: do companies like Bechtel want to be seen as complicit?
Read more: Saudi Arabia detains two more Huwaitat tribespeople for standing in the way of Neom
