Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — A number of eminent Saudi academics and experts hailed the ambitious initiative of NEOM, saying that the vision of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, is to transform dreams into reality by paving the ground for a promising future.
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, they said that the NEOM project, which is closely interwoven with the strategy of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, has vast goals matching the unique position of Saudi Arabia and its citizens.
Prominent financial analyst and writer Dr. Fadl Al-Buainain, said: “The NEOM project is a unique example of the concept of the so-called ‘smart cities’ and is a great economic gain for the Kingdom on the shores of the Red Sea.”
He said the Kingdom’s steel and cement companies and construction firms will benefit from foreign investments.
Prince Mamdouh Bin Saud Bin Thunayan, an expert in sustainable energy at King Saud University, said the Kingdom is witnessing rapid growth in the economic and developmental fields in accordance with an ambitious vision mapped out by the Crown Prince.
“These include the development of human resources and the use of modern technologies in various aspects of development to increase investment rates,” he said.
According to Prince Mamdouh, NEOM is a national initiative that embraces a range of modern technologies in various fields such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Mosned, associate professor in the department of geography at Al-Qassim University, said the area of the NEOM project is dominated by the northwest wind for most of the year, and it boasts of an incredible geomorphology as well as the beauty of its beaches, marine islands, coral reefs and natural coves.
Echoing the same view, Dr. Abdul Malik Al-Sheikh, supervisor at the Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research at King Saud University, said that the project headquarters has an important aspect in investing in groundwater storage techniques.
