Saudi Arabia megaprojects 2023: Neom, AlUla and more SEDGSDG

 Saudi Arabia's economic diversification efforts under its Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to reduce the kingdom's reliance on oil revenue and nurture local industries, feature a number of big projects that are well under way around the country.

They are set to open up new areas of economic activity and create thousands of jobs, with a stronger focus on the future.

Here's what's in store for the kingdom:

Neom

A central project in Saudi's Vision 2030 and the most ambitious is the $500 billion Neom smart city in the north-western part of the kingdom.

It will be powered entirely by clean energy as the kingdom moves away from an oil-based economy.

First unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017, it will challenge the traditional concept of cities and lifestyle with its offerings.

So far, four major projects within Neom have been announced - The Line, Trojena, Oxagon and Sindalah.

The Line

It doesn't get much more ambitious than this.

Residents will live in a 170km-long, 500m-tall city designed to house nine million people. The structure is planned to have a mirrored facade.

It will be a new way of living in interconnected societies run by artificial intelligence.

Work is under way, with drone footage released in October showing heavy equipment clearing the site ready for construction.

Sindalah

This is set to be the first destination in Neom that will be open to the public.

It is a resort island and yachting paradise spread across about 840,000 square metres in the Red Sea, with views over the Neom mainland, luxury hotels, a large marina, beach club, yacht club, spa and wellness centre. WESDFCJH GTQWEASDG AWESDG