Volocopter, the Saudi-backed pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), has announced the opening of its production facilities in Bruchsal, Germany. At the facility Volocopter will make more than 50 flying taxis per year, which will be shipped to locations including NEOM in Saudi Arabia. The company opened a new hangar that will host the its final assembly line with an airfield to conduct development flight tests as well as quality checks.

The Shushah Island Coral Park will become a global centre for innovations that protect and restore coral reefs.  Located off the coast of the Red Sea, the island will include the world’s largest coral garden, a marina, hotels, villas, a beach club, a museum, and a research centre.  According to the latest imagery, the museum will even be located underwater providing visitors with a unique and immersive experience.

The coral garden is the centrepiece of the project, set to be completed in 2025, and is part of NEOM’s commitment to developing in harmony with nature and creating a sustainable relationship between people and the planet.

On completion, the coral reef scape will provide a research and development opportunity for coral preservation and attract international scientists, researchers, and eco-conscious travellers.

Cayan Group, a leading real estate investment and development company in the Middle East, has signed a development agreement with NEOM, a gigaproject spanning 26,500 square kilometers in northwest Saudi Arabia.

Under the agreement, Cayan Group will fully fund and develop a Hampton By Hilton hotel situated at the NEOM Community site to meet the rapidly rising accommodation demand from the construction sector– a critical component to further progress earthworks at the site. Construction, led by BEC Arabia, has already started on the hotel, and it is expected to open by the end of 2023. 

Hotelschool The Hague has announced the launch of the 2023 Sustainable Hospitality Challenge (SHC). This year’s edition will include for the first time, leading international architecture, technology and design universities who will be joining the participating top-tier hospitality institutions to form multidisciplinary student teams.  The Sustainable Hospitality Challenge (SHC) is a Hotelschool The Hague initiative that aims to enhance the evolution of sustainable hospitality, foster innovation driven by the leaders of tomorrow, and nurture talent on a global scale by bringing them close to industry organisations who want to reimagine the future of hospitality.

Over 40+ universities from around the globe, including returning champions, Cornell University, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), Ryerson University, Hotel Institute Montreux, CY Cergy Paris Université, and Hotelschool The Hague, will be competing in this year’s challenge.

Saudi Arabia’s super city NEOM is planning its own football team. The NEOM Football Club has been confirmed by chiefs, hoping that a match against Barcelona would bring fans to The LINE.  The 170km vertical city will house numerous football stadiums.

Saudi Arabia's NEOM city launched a new accelerator programme Seven Senses to promote entrepreneurship in the NEOM and Tabuk region. This programme would support SMEs, professionals, innovators, and businesses. The accelerator programme is open to all sectors, however, some of them would receive greater attention, according to a report by Fast Company Middle East. These include perfumery, pottery, jewellery, clothing, skincare, tourism, arts and culture, and public service, among others.