Bringing together the crème de la crème of the construction world, NEOM, the avant-garde sustainable development in Saudi Arabia’s northwest, recently held a pivotal industry forum. This two-day event was a melting pot for over 100 preeminent construction entities, providing a platform to exhibit the construction strides on the ground and to shed light on forthcoming ventures as NEOM escalates into the subsequent phase of its extensive array of projects.
The transition of NEOM’s projects into a new chapter of implementation underscores the critical need for premier construction know-how. This expertise is essential to bring to fruition some of the most audacious development endeavors the globe has witnessed. Among these is the construction of THE LINE, a revolutionary 170 km urban stretch being erected in modular segments. Its initial phase is set to open its doors to inhabitants by 2030. The forum also underlined the imperative of innovation within the sector, pointing out that conventional building techniques fall short when confronted with the magnitude and breadth of NEOM’s aspirations.
The symposium commenced with a keynote from NEOM’s CEO, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, who proclaimed, As we go into our busiest ever phase of development, the scale of opportunities across NEOM is monumental. With projects progressing fast across all parts of the region, we are committed to collaborating with globally renowned contractors to achieve the vision of NEOM.
Delegates gleaned insights into the expansive plans and scope of imminent opportunities. They also embarked on tours of the project sites to observe the colossal construction efforts, a scale rarely paralleled globally. In addition to site visits, the event facilitated one-on-one dialogues where specific business prospects were explored, allowing contractors to flaunt their services and proficiencies.
The gathering saw an eclectic mix of firms from within Saudi Arabia and international companies from Asia, Europe, North America, and North Africa. Construction is in full swing across NEOM, with a workforce surpassing 140,000 strong. Thanks to the collaboration with the firms present at the forum, this number is expected to swell to over 200,000 by the following year.