Saudi Arabia’s ambitious $500 billion NEOM project, envisioned as a futuristic city symbolizing the country’s modernization, is now embroiled in controversy over disturbing reports of workplace abuse, racism, and mismanagement. The allegations include incidents of rape, suicide, and neglect that cast a shadow over Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s flagship Vision 2030 initiative.
Employees working on the NEOM construction sites have revealed a dark reality behind the project’s gleaming promotional façade. Workers report incidents of group rape, suicides, attempted murders, and drug trafficking within the project’s camps. These harrowing accounts highlight an environment plagued by lawlessness and disregard for basic human rights. One worker’s tragic suicide underscores the severe mental toll of the harsh working conditions, while multiple reports of rape point to a systemic failure to ensure safety and accountability.
Adding to the project’s troubles, allegations of racism and discrimination have emerged, primarily directed at the foreign management overseeing NEOM. Reports describe preferential treatment for expatriate executives, who receive significantly higher pay and benefits compared to their Saudi counterparts. Employees have detailed encounters with managers who openly insult Gulf women, South Asian workers, and individuals with darker skin tones. In one particularly egregious case, a senior Australian executive was recorded making derogatory remarks about the intelligence and capabilities of workers based on their ethnicity.
These discriminatory practices have not only demoralized the workforce but also tarnished NEOM’s image as a cutting-edge project intended to redefine urban living. Workers describe a culture where foreign executives enjoy excessive privileges while Saudi employees face limited opportunities for growth. This disparity has fostered resentment and created a toxic workplace atmosphere, further undermining the project’s potential.
Corruption allegations also plague the NEOM initiative. Some managers have been accused of exploiting their positions for personal gain, raising questions about the integrity of the project’s leadership. These reports of corruption, coupled with the systemic abuse and discrimination, have eroded trust in the project’s ability to deliver on its promises of innovation and equality.
International labor rights organizations have condemned the conditions at NEOM, urging the Saudi government to implement immediate reforms. Advocacy groups highlight the critical need to address worker safety, eradicate workplace discrimination, and hold those responsible for abuse accountable. Without meaningful changes, NEOM risks becoming a symbol of failure rather than a showcase for progress.
While NEOM remains a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy and project a forward-thinking image to the world, the revelations of abuse and mismanagement threaten to derail its ambitions. As the Kingdom continues to promote NEOM as a “city of the future,” the world watches to see if it will take responsibility for the human cost of its aspirations.
البوست
Saudi Arabia’s $500 Billion NEOM dream faces backlash over allegations of abuse, racism, and mismanagement. Has Vision 2030 lost its way? Learn more about the scandal shaking the Kingdom. 🌍 #NEOMExposed #Vision2030 #HumanRights
التصميم
$500 Billion Vision: NEOM Accused of Racism and Worker Abuse—At What Cost to Progress?
