When NEOM engineers speak

Abdulrahman Al-Qout

One day, during a work visit to the NEOM region, I met one of the young engineers working on this ambitious project. He was standing in the middle of the construction site, under an open sky surrounded by mountains, with a look of both enthusiasm and determination on his face. I asked him, “What makes you excited to work here?”

He smiled and replied, “Here, we’re not just building a city… we’re shaping the future. Every decision we make, every stone we lay, is a step toward changing the way people will live in the future.”

These simple words inspired me, because they reflect the essence of NEOM. It’s not just a real estate project or a new city… it’s a vision that challenges traditional notions of cities… In NEOM, infrastructure isn’t built in the traditional way; rather, it’s designed to be integrated with nature, powered by renewable energy, and equipped with artificial intelligence technology to meet residents“ needs before they even realize they have them.

During my tour, I witnessed how advanced technologies are used to analyze the surrounding environment and design buildings in ways that reduce their carbon footprint. At one site, I saw a team working on the creation of an underground autonomous transportation system connecting different areas of the city. ”This is the future,“ said one of the supervisors. ”Here, we’re not building for today, but for years to come.“

What makes Neom unique is how it opens its doors to investors from all over the world, offering them an environment specifically designed for innovation. I spoke with an entrepreneur who invested in the ”Oxagon“ district, the world’s largest floating industrial city. He told me how this district is not just a place to work, but a living laboratory for future industrial experiments. ”In NEOM, our big dreams find a place to come true,“ he said, explaining his plans to launch an AI-driven initiative to improve manufacturing efficiency.

But the story that moved me the most was from a woman who works as an environmental design specialist. She shared with me her experience designing a sustainable tourist resort within NEOM, where recycled water and solar energy are used to power everything, from air conditioning to lighting systems. She said, ”Here, we’re creating luxury that doesn’t harm the environment. It’s a challenge, but it’s the most beautiful challenge of my life.”

NEOM isn’t just a city—it’s a platform for opportunity, a place that gives individuals and companies the chance to rethink how they live, work, and invest. It’s a city that shows us that innovation isn’t just a tool to improve our lives, but a way to completely redesign them.

And you? Do you see NEOM as just a project, or as the beginning of a new era of smart cities?