Saudi Arabia is trying to improve the image of its significant project named Neom. For this purpose, the nation is relying on the media but has failed to convince the people. Neom area, having a cost of $1.5 trillion, is developed under the leadership of Mohammad Bin Salman, on the Red Sea coast. The project aims to change the nation’s economy and present new technologies that could impact daily life. However, many people are doubtful about these claims.
Neom markets itself as a ”land of the future”. It aims to attract the best talent and innovative ideas. However, the real impact of this project remains uncertain. Critics argue that the government wants to divert the attention of people from the nation’s human rights abuses by introducing this new project. So, the efforts to promote Neom might be seen as an attempt to cover up deeper problems in Saudi Arabia. While Neom aims high, its reception suggests that people see it as more of a publicity stunt than a genuine transformation.
The influencers are making an effort to promote it by saying it is an ideal place to live. But this is misleading. Recent reports highlight that all of the promotion of this significant project is one of the big scams. This is because many of these influencers are the wives of Neom employees, sharing videos on TikTok showcasing their daily lives in this unfinished city.
One of the vloggers, Aida McPherson, often shared videos of her trips and chatted with friends. In the media, these posts seem appealing, but they ignore the real facts of life in Neom. This city has still many drawbacks, such as a lack of basic infrastructure and services. This reality makes it hard for residents to thrive.
What is the reality of Neom?
This effort to present a perfect image distracts from the serious issues facing Neom and its people. By focusing only on the good things, influencers help Saudi Arabia hide the truth about the problems and struggles in the region. This makes a false story that ignores the problems of those living there stronger.
However, the perfect lifestyle shown by influencers promoting Neom does not convince many social media users. Despite the fact that vloggers upload happy videos, people see that area looks dull and lifeless. Comments on X compare Neom’s housing to “industrial areas on the sun” or “low-security prisons,” showing growing doubt about the pretty pictures shared online.
There are also many other serious problems that these videos don’t cover. Many viewers of TikTok are unfamiliar with the troubling issues of the project. Reports say that local villagers have been forced to leave their homes for construction. One of the reports explored that officials were permitted to murder anyone who resisted eviction. This led to the death of at least one villager.
These concerns raise important questions about the real cost of Neom and how it affects local people.
This project under the leadership of MBS, has many complexities. Many reports show the reality of worker deaths, racism, and sexism. Furthermore, some leaders are hired although they have committed severe crimes in their past lives. Here, the issues do not end. This project also has money problems. One of the main parts of the project, “The Line,” was supposed to be a big city stretching 105 miles along the Red Sea. The government planned to adjust to 1.5 million people there by 2030. But now there is little moderation in the plan. According to the report, the city will only have less than 300,000 people and stretch just 1.5 miles.
These issues make people doubt if Neom can reach its big goals. The project is getting more expensive, and it seems less likely to succeed.