Not to be confused with white elephants
Accompanying the above graphic, The Economist Intelligence Unit writes, “Saudi Arabia has embarked on four transformative “giga projects” (including NEOM, a planned mega-city; and Qiddiya, a planned “entertainment city”) that represent major technology, tourism, real-estate, sport, cultural and entertainment developments aligned with Vision 2030 objectives. Saudi Arabia also intends to “develop national and international connectivity through ventures funded by a combination of state and foreign investment.”
NEOM
Football too
References
Al Omran, A. (2025, January 6). World Cup award adds pressure to Saudi Arabia’s construction challenge. The Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/90eed648-a204-4058-b201-ff7a1bf7bb44
EIU. (2021). Are Saudi Arabia’s plans to become the main business hub for the Middle East achievable or a step too far? The Economist Intelligence Unit. https://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=may21saudiwp
Worth, R. F. (2021, January 28). The Dark Reality Behind Saudi Arabia’s Utopian Dreams: Screenland. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/28/magazine/saudi-arabia-neom-the-line.html