RISING LIKE SCI-FI FILM CGI EFFECTS, SAUDI ARABIA’S NEOM IS PUSHING LIMITS OF DESIGN
▶ From futuristic city The Line to ski slopes in Trojena, these are the blueprints unveiled for the kingdom’s megaproject, writes Katy Gillett
Neom is the mega-development in Saudi Arabia that has been on everyone’s lips in recent years. Since The Line hit international headlines, there has been huge interest in the $500 billion city in the northwest of the kingdom.
The latest project – the “tech-enhanced” Sindalah Beach Club – was announced last week, the 12th revealed so far. Here’s a summary of each.
The Line
Announced: January 10, 2021
Easily the most famous of Neom’s communities, The Line made headlines when it was announced for its sheer ambitiousness.
The 170km-long, 500-metre-tall dual towers will be the greatest real estate challenge undertaken by mankind, Giles Pendleton, executive director of the development, previously told The National.
Once completed, it will be the largest megastructure in the world – a futuristic, mirrored residential and business block that rises over the expanse of desert, emerald waters, rocky inlets and white beaches of the rugged Tabuk province.
The structures will be connected by walkways and a high-speed train will run beneath, with daily essentials a mere five-minute walk from anywhere, planners say.
The whole city will run on 100 per cent renewable energy, with no roads or cars, and 95 per cent of the land will be preserved for nature, aiming to enhance air quality.
Oxagon
Announced: November 16, 2021
This city is set to be the largest floating industrial complex in the world. Oxagon will establish the first fully integrated port and supply chain ecosystem for Neom. It will be built as an industrial city to showcase an innovative new model for future manufacturing centres, one designed to help protect the environment while creating jobs and growth for Neom.
The plan is for it to be a net-zero city, fully powered by clean energy, and it will focus on seven sectors – sustainable energy; autonomous mobility; water innovation; sustainable food production; health and well-being; modern methods of construction and technology; and digital manufacturing, including telecoms, space technology and robotics.
Trojena
Announced: March 3, 2022
Trojena is aiming to be a new global destination for mountain tourism and is set for completion by 2026. It will be the first major outdoor skiing destination in the GCC and will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games – the first time the continental sporting contest will be held in the Middle East.
It is being built in Tabuk, which is home to the kingdom’s highest mountains.
The region’s cooler climate makes the prospect of skiing possible in a country that is synonymous with the desert and dunes.
The area will be split into six districts – gateway, discover, valley, explore, relax and fun.
The year-round tourist destination will feature attractions such as a ski village, luxury family and wellness resorts, a wide range of retail stores and restaurants. There will also be a selection of sports destinations, including a ski slope, water sports, mountain biking and a nature reserve.
Sindalah
Announced:
December 5, 2022
Seahorse-shaped Sindalah will be the first destination to open to tourists in the megacity. Spread over 84 hectares along the Red Sea, the luxury island will focus on conserving its surrounding natural beauty, most of which is untouched.
It will be home to several upscale hotels and a large marina for yachts, as well as a beach club, wellness centre and shopping outlets.
Sindalah will also be home to the GCC’s first island golf course. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, the nine-hole course will have a 280-metre driving range and several practice suites.
It will also be home to a sports club with a training academy, Olympic-sized swimming pool, spa and courts.
Leyja
Announced: October 15
Sustainable tourism destination Leyja was announced late last year.
The area begins at the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba and winds inland to form a valley carved between 400-metre-high mountains.
About 95 per cent of Leyja will be preserved for nature. The rest, according to planners, will combine ecological design and construction techniques to ensure the development blends into the landscape. There will be three hotels offering 120 boutique rooms and suites.
The first property will focus on active adventure as the design ascends the walls of the wadi like a staircase, folding into a clifftop and valley sides.
The second will sit at the heart of the wadi’s largest oasis, while the third will be a wellness retreat with a reflective facade mirroring the surrounding valley walls.
Fine dining restaurants and rooftop infinity pools will also feature, while guests will have the opportunity to go on guided wadi walks, tackle mountain biking trails and join rock climbing adventures.
Epicon
Announced: November 15
Epicon is another coastal tourism destination with a residential offering announced last year. It will feature two towers at heights of 225 metres and 275 metres.
These will be home to a premium 41-room hotel and luxury residences, including 14 suites and apartments.
A short distance from here will be the Epicon resort, with 120 rooms and 45 beach villas.
In the area, there will be a beach club, spa, gym, library, workspaces, pools and lounges. Amid the surrounding natural environment, activities and water sports will be on offer. An array of restaurants will also be built.
Siranna
Announced: November 29
Due to be built on the Gulf of Aqaba coastline, the hexagon-shaped hotel Siranna will be home to 65 rooms as well as 35 private residences.
Like hexagonal pillars rising from the water, the futuristic hotel aims to offer uninterrupted views of the Red Sea, while the tiered design will provide different perspectives.
The hotel will be accessible via boats, and guests will sail through natural rock formations before reaching the entrance of the property.
Spas and state-of-the-art wellness facilities will be part of the offering, and more details about its beach club project have now been released.
Guests will also be able to enjoy winding discovery trails on foot or horseback to explore where the sea, mountain and wadi meet. A range of dining and entertainment options will be offered.
The architecture will pay homage to the heritage of the local area and also blend into the mountains and wadi.
Utamo
Announced: December 13
Away from the high-end hotels and adrenalin-inducing leisure activities, Utamo aims to be an immersive venue for art and entertainment cocooned in a mountain along the coastline.
The plan is for guests to arrive via an extended garden promenade, featuring more than 50 species of shrubs, herbs and flowers, before reaching the grand hall.
It will include a multipurpose performance space, VIP lounges and high-end restaurants.
There will also be artistic installations, concerts and more, all with the promise of enhancement by advanced audiovisual systems.
Norlana
Announced: December 27
This coastal residential area is set to be an active lifestyle community with a capacity for 3,000 in 711 properties, including mansions, apartments and beach villas that are integrated into the surrounding mountains.
There are also plans for a 120-berth marina that aims to be an international hub for superyachts, with a members’ club for yacht owners and
water taxi services available for residents and guests.
An 18-hole golf course will sit between the mountains, alongside an equestrian and polo centre. Sailing and diving will also be offered.
Planners announced that sport, health and well-being will be at the core of this community, as will sustainability, with a particular focus on preserving local land and marine environments.
Aquellum Announced: January 10
A luxury and experiential space within the mountains, Aquellum aims to offer cutting-edge technology, avant-garde architecture and futuristic living, according to its designers.
Concealed from the outside along the coastline, it will be hidden inside the surrouding mountain range.
To access Aquellum, visitors will have to embark on a journey that begins at what is being called the world’s first floating marina. They will board a specially designed vessel to enter through a concealed underground canal.
Once inside, the recent announcement says “visitors will be treated to an exhilarating, 100-metre-high vertical experience”, with a courtyard space stretching from the water to the sky. It is described as a “subterranean digitalised community” that will have hotel accommodations, apartments, retail spaces, leisure and entertainment zones.
A space called The Generator will house research labs for “disrupters and creative thinkers”, while an internal transit system will facilitate easy access to upper floors, ascending to rooftop gardens with coastal views.
Zardun Announced: January 24
Yet another luxury eco-tourism destination, Zardun aims to be a sanctuary-style resort created to blend contemporary design with nature. The coastline property will cover four square kilometres and host four uniquely designed buildings.
Planners say the area will be filled with plants and animals that are native to the region and will stretch from the mountains to the shoreline. The announcement last month describes the area as having an experience centre with a 360-degree observation deck.
There will be three boutique hotels with a total of 100 rooms and suites, each with a different theme.
Zardun will also have plenty of opportunities for trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, stargazing, meditation and yoga. Guests will also be invited to join in educational programmes regarding nature protection, conservation programmes and rewilding.
The sustainability strategy also includes the creation of a series of oases to support diverse habitats.
Sindalah Beach Club Announced: last Wednesday
Neom and Saudi music entertainment company MDLBeast have teamed up to create an “ultra-modern” beach club on the luxury island of Sindalah.
The Sindalah Beach Club, which will sit on the shores of the Red Sea, promises yearround experiences inspired by music and culture.
MDLBeast, which is also behind the annual Soundstorm festival in Riyadh, will curate the music scene at Sindalah and is aiming to bring in world-famous musicians, artists and DJs, as well as cutting-edge audio and visual installations.
“Sindalah is bringing a new model for luxury travel and living powered by innovation and sustainability,” said Antoni Vives, chief urban planning and islands officer at Neom. “MDLBeast will reimagine the typical beach club experience into a tech-enhanced journey.”
The aim is for the club to balance high-quality experiences with environmental preservation. The architecture has been designed to blend in with the natural environment and construction plans are centred on building with a minimal ecological footprint.
Ramadan Alharatani, chief executive of MDLBeast, said the partnership marks a pivotal moment in “redefining the beach club experience”. This will include the introduction of VIP areas, a high-end retail venue and dining outlets.
The Line, at 170km-long, will be the greatest real estate challenge undertaken by mankind, the project executive director said