Saudi Arabia’s Neom project, a 105-mile-long city designed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is facing significant financial and logistical challenges.

A report from the Wall Street Journal indicates that the project may take an additional 55 years to complete and could cost up to US$8.8 trillion, based on an internal audit presented to Neom’s board last summer.

Since its launch nearly eight years ago, the Neom initiative has used US$50 billion of Saudi investment.

This projected cost exceeds 25 times the country’s annual national budget, highlighting its significant financial burden. The project’s progress has been hampered by labor shortages, infrastructure deficits, and issues with energy supply.

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