Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to build a $500 billion mega-city that will run on alternative energy and have its own laws. In a project that forms a key part of the kingdom’s plan to diversify its economy, the zone of Neom will cover 26,500 square kilometres of “totally untouched” land and will power itself with wind and solar energy. Neom, which stands for new future, will span Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan along the Red Sea coastline and will have its own tax and labour laws as well as an autonomous judicial system. Plans for the futuristic city, which will also feature the use of driverless cars, drones and other robots, were unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Future Investment Initiative
Saudi Arabia aims to establish a $500bn city that will spread to Jordan and Egypt and measure 26,500 square kilometers in total. The NEOM development is designed to refocus the Saudi economy, and is due to be powered entirely by renewable energy. The city will offer free wireless high-speed internet, and utilise automated vehicle tech and passenger drones for transport. In addition to its plans to build an artificial island, the country has also announced it wants to develop a new airport on the Red Sea coast of Yemen – which would allow it to export oil from