**Why is Saudi Arabia building a $1 trillion city in the middle of the desert?**
In the quiet desert of the northwest corner of Saudi Arabia, where the only sounds are the wind and sand rustling through the endless dunes, a new sound is ringing out. It is the engine of a $1 trillion futuristic city called *Neom*. The Saudi Arabian government is investing a huge amount of its oil wealth to make this dream a reality.
The *Neom* project has been met with mixed opinions: is it just a fantasy of royal ambitions, or is it truly a turning point? But the fact is, even from space, people can clearly see signs of construction on the desert floor. Why did they decide to carry out such a bold plan? This is the question that urged me to go there to find out.
**Exploring *Neom* and life in the heart of the desert**
On the way to *Neom*, the scale of the project overwhelmed me. A series of trucks were constantly transporting materials, building new roads and even “creating mountains” in the desert. I traveled with Solom, a native who grew up in the desert, to not only get closer to the *Neom* project but also to discover how people here have survived for centuries. Solom took me to meet nomadic tribes, people who are closely connected to nature and live in harmony with this land.
**The contrast between tradition and modernity**
The story of *Neom* is not simply about a futuristic city, but also about the collision of two worlds: on one side is the sustainable tradition of nomadic tribes, on the other side is the dream of modernization and globalization. Projects like *Oxagon* – a floating industrial city, *Sindalah* – a luxury resort on the Red Sea, and *The Line* – a 170km smart city – all have ambitions to redefine the future of urbanization.
**Why are they doing this?**
While the project has been met with controversy over its feasibility and enormous costs, the question that interests me most is *why*. Why is Saudi Arabia pouring so much resources into a barren desert? Is it part of an effort to transform the country’s image? Or is it preparation for a future that is not dependent on oil?
As I sat around the fire with the nomads, listening to them talk about their simple and peaceful life in the desert, I realized that amid all these changes, one thing has remained: the spirit of the desert – a quietness and connection with nature that no city can replace.
