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NEOM - Lining Up a New Smart City / ABDULAZIZ ALQASEM
Swansea University Author: ABDULAZIZ ALQASEM
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Copyright: the author, Abdulaziz Ibrahem Alqasem, 2026
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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.71459
Abstract
NEOM, a US$500 billion megaproject under development in Saudi Arabia and a flagship of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, proposes a new model of urbanism powered entirely by renewable energy, governed through AI-driven systems, and anchored by The Line, a 170-kilometre linear city designed to eliminate car...
| Published: |
Swansea University
2026
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Smith, R., and Rees, K. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71459 |
| Abstract: |
NEOM, a US$500 billion megaproject under development in Saudi Arabia and a flagship of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, proposes a new model of urbanism powered entirely by renewable energy, governed through AI-driven systems, and anchored by The Line, a 170-kilometre linear city designed to eliminate car dependency, reduce carbon emissions, and preserve 95% of its surrounding natural environment. This study examines how the planning of the NEOM urban area draws upon lessons from other established smart cities worldwide, with an emphasis on NEOM’s planning motivations, environmental strategies, and its distinctive linear spatial logic. Boyd Cohen's Smart City Wheel is used as a diagnostic framework to assess NEOM’s alignment with established smart city dimensions, while the lens of smart and cognitive urbanism offers insight into the project’s symbolic, technological, and strategic dimensions. A qualitative interpretive case study methodology guided the research during NEOM’s construction, gaining empirical insights into NEOM’s formative planning and early construction stages. Primary data was collected through 39 semi-structured interviews with high-level internal stakeholders, including NEOM planners, consultants, and experts, and external participants such as urban scholars, sustainability professionals, and policy advisors. These insights are supported by documentary analysis and in-depth engagement with planning reports and media sources. The findings reveal that NEOM selectively integrates global best practices while extending them through novel frameworks, such as AI urbanism, Zero Gravity Urbanism, and cognitive dimensions. While the project introduces ambitious innovations in renewable energy systems, vertical spatial design, and AI-enhanced service delivery, it remains in an early experimental phase. At this stage, NEOM cannot yet be considered a fully replicable model, but it embodies a potential future paradigm marked by conceptual boldness and global significance. The study concludes by identifying key challenges for translating NEOM’s ambitious vision into a viable and replicable model, particularly in terms of inclusive governance, environmental resilience, technological feasibility, and the uniqueness of NEOM’s political and geographical context.Finally, recommendations for future research are suggested as NEOM continues to be built, specifically the need for longitudinal monitoring and comparative studies to evaluate and contextualise its evolving progress and replicability. |
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| Keywords: |
NEOM, The Line, Smart Sustainable Cities, Cognitive City, AI Urbanism, Innovative Urban Form, Sustainable Mobility, Global Smart City Best Practices. |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia – Cultural Bureau (London) |