On December 28, 2024, The Wall Street Journal published a shocking report that exposed the grim realities behind the glittering facade of Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion NEOM project. Touted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a symbol of progress and a cornerstone of Vision 2030, NEOM has instead become a site of human suffering, systemic abuses, and gross mismanagement. Beneath its carefully curated image of innovation and luxury lies a brutal reality for the workers who toil in its deserts, enduring indignities and dangers far removed from the promises of prosperity and modernity.
Over 100,000 workers from various parts of the world have been brought to NEOM, drawn by the hope of opportunity. Instead, they have found themselves living in dire conditions, crammed into temporary housing units lacking basic necessities. Protests over substandard food, insufficient healthcare, and unlivable conditions have been met with an eerie silence from the authorities, who remain focused on preserving the project’s image rather than addressing these pressing issues. The suffering of these workers reflects a fundamental disregard for their humanity, casting a shadow over the lofty ambitions of NEOM.
The report detailed harrowing incidents that have come to define the project. Cases of gang rape, suicides, and worker deaths on construction sites reveal the toxic environment that permeates NEOM. In November 2024, a McKinsey consultant lost his life in a car accident after management ignored repeated warnings about unsafe driving conditions in the undeveloped areas of the project. This was just one of several fatalities recorded in the same month, highlighting the absence of proper safety measures, emergency planning, and accountability. The neglect extends to broader systemic issues, including violence, drug-related crimes, and a pervasive atmosphere of despair, all of which are exacerbated by the lack of oversight and care from those in charge.
Even within the higher echelons of the project, chaos and dysfunction prevail. The resignation of NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr in November 2024, reportedly due to escalating disagreements over funding and management, underscored the instability at the core of the venture. While state propaganda continues to emphasize unwavering commitment to realizing Mohammed bin Salman’s vision, the cracks in the project’s foundation are increasingly evident. Frequent leadership changes, coupled with unrestrained spending and the absence of a coherent strategy, have turned what was marketed as a transformative endeavor into a symbol of economic waste and administrative failure.
Efforts to suppress dissent have further exposed the oppressive nature of the NEOM project. Workers who attempted to speak out about their suffering faced arrests, while documenting the conditions on-site is treated as an act of betrayal punishable by severe consequences. This repressive approach silences any attempt to shed light on the abuses occurring in NEOM and reflects the fragility of a regime that equates criticism with subversion. The result is an environment where exploitation flourishes unchecked, protected by a wall of propaganda and fear.
While workers endure death, indignity, and despair within NEOM’s boundaries, Mohammed bin Salman continues to invest billions in marketing the project abroad. Lavish campaigns aim to present NEOM as a visionary undertaking, appealing to global investors and audiences, while neglecting the suffering of those who make it possible. This relentless focus on global image underscores the regime’s priorities: a superficial commitment to progress that masks the exploitation and repression at its core. The silence of international stakeholders and major consulting firms involved in NEOM further perpetuates these abuses, revealing the uncomfortable truth that economic interests often outweigh ethical concerns.
NEOM, envisioned as a city of the future, has become a magnifying glass that exposes the systemic failures of Saudi Arabia’s leadership. It stands as a testament to the human cost of grandiose ambitions pursued without regard for ethics or practicality. Workers who sought honest livelihoods have found themselves trapped in a dystopian reality, stripped of dignity and subjected to a system that sees them as expendable. The story of NEOM is not one of innovation or progress but of exploitation, mismanagement, and the crushing of hope under the weight of political and economic illusions. The world must confront this reality and hold accountable those who perpetuate and enable these abuses, for no vision of progress can justify the sacrifices made at the expense of human lives and rights.
