Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing a bit of a transformation, repositioning itself as a tourism destination and debuting new developments and attractions. While perhaps not a “development” or “attraction” per se, NEOM is one of these new initiatives — but one beyond many of our wildest dreams. NEOM, a special economic zone within the country of Saudi Arabia, has been dubbed “a vision of what a new future might look like” and “a city of the future.”

© NEOM

What does this all mean? The world will continue to watch as NEOM unfolds, but its initial premise breaks the area, at more than 6 million acres, into three regions with a focus across 14 sectors. Many factors make NEOM ideal for this type of undergoing, from its position within a four-hour flight from 40 percent of the globe, to its climate that is regularly 50 degrees cooler than the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Situated in northwestern Saudi Arabia, this region boasts historical significance as a Land of Prophets and the area where Moses lived 10 years when exiled. Add in its incredible natural beauty and the futuristic city concept moves more into the present day.

© NEOM

Here’s a closer look at the three planned regions:

• Trojena, the Mountains of NEOM: Blending natural and developed landscapes, this year-round mountain destination will have six development districts
• Oxagon, a Reimagined Industrial City: Now open, this “pioneering cognitive city” will be the place of giant leaps in areas like manufacturing, technology, work, living and sustainability
• The Line, a Revolution in Urban Living: This is quoted as a “city of a million residents with a length of 170 kilometers that preserves 95 percent of nature within NEOM, with zero cars, zero streets and zero carbon emissions”

© NEOM

The 14 sectors of focus at NEOM include:

• Design and Construction: Ultimately, NEOM will build the communities of the future
• Education: The culture at NEOM advocates learning by doing
• Energy: NEOM works to develop 100 percent clean energy at scale
• Entertainment and Culture: Innovative technologies and ideas from around the world will allow hyper-personalization and sensory wonderment
• Financial Services: With the aim for universal access to financial services with end-to-end solutions, fully digital payments and more
• Food: Using circular design, green energy and breakthrough technology to defeat the natural resources crunch
• Health, Well-Being and Biotech: NEOM’s health, well-being and biotech ecosystem will go beyond traditional medical care
• Manufacturing: State-of-the-art approaches include integrated supply chains and research-based innovation