All you need to know about NEOM, Saudi's 'futuristic desert city'

With the BBC reporting yesterday that Saudi authorities authorised the use of deadly force to clear land for NEOM - a futuristic desert city being constructed with the involvement of numerous Western companies, we list some facts you should know about the project.

Colonel Rabih Alenezi, a former Saudi intelligence officer, told the publication that he received orders to evict villagers in the Tabuk region to pave the way for The Line, a component of the NEOM project. One villager, Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, was fatally shot while protesting the eviction, the publication reported.

Here are some key facts about NEOM, Saudi Arabia's 'futuristic' desert city project:

• NEOM is situated in the north-western region of Saudi Arabia, close to the borders with Jordan and Egypt, along the Red Sea coast.

• NEOM is envisioned as a futuristic, technologically advanced city and economic zone aimed at diversifying Saudi Arabia's economy away from oil dependence. It is widely regarded as the brainchild of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.

• It is one of the largest and most ambitious development projects globally, covering an area of approximately 26,500 square kilometers (10,230 square miles).

• The project is backed by significant financial investment, with Saudi Arabia committing over $500 billion to its development, with money being sourced from the country's sovereign wealth fund, the 'Public Investment Fund'.

• Within NEOM, 'The Line' is a flagship project, designed as a linear city spanning 170 kilometers (106 miles) in length, 200m wide, and intended to be entirely car-free.

• NEOM is a key component of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to reduce the country's reliance on oil revenues by developing new sectors such as technology, tourism, and entertainment.

• The project is strategically located at the crossroads of three continents, with the potential to become a global hub for trade and innovation.

• NEOM has attracted partnerships and investments from various international companies and organisations, including several Western MNCs.