Saudi Arabian authorities have reportedly authorized the use of lethal force to facilitate the construction of Neom, a futuristic $500 billion city initiative spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), as part of the Saudi Vision 2030. According to the BBC, Colonel Rabih Alenezi, a former intelligence operative, disclosed that he was commanded to displace villagers to make way for The Line, a segment of Neom. During these evictions, there was at least one reported fatality due to resistance. The Saudi government and the administration of Neom have not provided any statements on the matter.
The Line is described as an innovative, vehicle-free urban area stretching 200 meters wide and 170 kilometers long. To date, projections suggest that only 2.4 kilometers of the project will be finished by 2030.
Official records indicate that over 6,000 individuals have been relocated to make room for Neom, though the British human rights organization ALQST believes the actual number is greater. The BBC has released satellite imagery that shows the demolition of three villages—al-Khuraybah, Sharma, and Gayal—previously inhabited by the Huwaitat tribe, whom authorities have branded as “rebels,” according to Colonel Alenezi.
Colonel Alenezi, now a UK resident citing personal safety, commented to the BBC, “Neom is the centerpiece of Mohamed Bin Salman’s plans, which explains his harsh measures against the Huwaitat.”
Envisioned to be 33 times larger than New York City and encompassing 26,500 square kilometers along the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea, Neom’s name blends the Greek word Neo and the Arabic term for “future.”
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said in 2022 that MBS has ordered workers to construct 10 palaces, each bigger than a football field. The outlet reviewed the project’s plan, which showed that the houses could list at up to $400 million each.