GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Saudi Arabia's New City Doesn't Have What It Takes

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Jason Lopata
Board of Contributors

Nov 12, 2017 | 14:41 GMT

Viewers watch a promotional video touting Saudi Arabia's proposed new megacity, Neom, during an investment conference in Riyadh on Oct. 25, 2017.

Contrary to the promotional video's claims, the new Saudi megacity of Neom probably won't be the "place where we can prepare together for the next era of human progress."

(FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

Highlights

  • Despite the recent hype surrounding so-called new cities, the concept has ample precedent throughout history.
  • The challenge new cities face is attracting businesses and people to relocate there, either with government policy or with seamless connection to an existing economic center.
  • Saudi Arabia will probably struggle to meet these criteria and, by extension, to achieve its goals for Neom, the high-tech megacity it plans to build. 

Despite their name and the timing of their announcements, "new cities" aren't really so new. History is full of examples of governments and urban planners creating cities out of nothing, with varying degrees of success. A look back at the triumphs and troubles of new cities past sheds light on the prospects of future developments of the sort, including Saudi Arabia's proposed megacity, Neom....

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