Saudi Forces Ordered to Use Lethal Force to Clear Land for Neom City: Report

9 May 2024Neeraj Mishra

Neom, spanning an area of 26,500 square kilometers, is said to be 33 times larger than New York City, stretching along the Aqaba Gulf and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline.

Saudi Arabian authorities have authorized the use of lethal force to make room for Neom, a groundbreaking $500 billion smart city initiative spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

In an interview with the BBC, Colonel Rabih Alenezi, a former intelligence officer, disclosed that he had been instructed to forcibly remove villagers to clear space for The Line, a crucial component of the Neom project.

Furthermore, the BBC reported that one individual was fatally shot during protests against the evictions. Neom represents a significant aspect of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Line, envisioned as a car-free city stretching 170 kilometers in length and just 200 meters wide, is facing delays, with only 2.4 kilometers expected to be completed by 2030, according to BBC reports.

Official government data states that over 6,000 individuals have been relocated for the project, although UK-based human rights organization ALQST suggests the actual number may be higher.

Satellite imagery shared by the BBC indicates the demolition of three villages—al-Khuraybah, Sharma, and Gayal—for the project. These villages were home to the Huwaitat tribe, labeled as “rebels” by the government, according to Colonel Alenezi.

“Neom represents the cornerstone of Mohammed Bin Salman’s vision.

This is why he took such drastic measures against the Huwaitat,” he remarked to the outlet. Colonel Alenezi now resides in the UK for his own safety.

Table of Contents

Neom – 33 times larger than New York

The futuristic megacity, spanning an impressive 26,500 square kilometers along the Aqaba Gulf and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline, is said to be 33 times larger than New York.

What is Neom?

The name “Neom” is derived from the Greek term “neo” and the Arabic word for “future.”

Saudi Arabia is constructing Neom on its western coast, situated across the Red Sea from Sharm El-Sheikh. This particular region of the Red Sea is densely populated with tourist attractions, including Jordan’s Aqaba and Israel’s Eilat, all within a few hundred miles of each other.

One Person Shot Dead in 2020

In 2020, Saudi tribal activist Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti was reportedly fatally shot by the country’s security forces in the northwest region of the kingdom.