NEOM launched its first international exhibition in Venice while presenting the key design principles underlying THE LINE, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.  Called “Zero Gravity Urbanism — Principles for a New Livability,” the exhibition plays host to more than 20 of the world’s leading architects and innovative designers. 

Danish studio BIG has been named as the masterplanner of the floating port city of OXAGON, which is part of the NEOM development in Saudi Arabia, at an exhibition taking place during the Venice Architecture Biennale. The studio is listed as a contributor to the NEOM project alongside UK studio Adjaye Associates, Austria studios Coop Himmelb(l)au and Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, Italian practices Studio Fuksas and Luca Dini Design and Architecture, and German studio LAVA, at the Zero Gravity Urbanism exhibition that opened today in Venice.

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, which is an upcoming $5 billion futuristic city, is looking to hire global talent ahead of its opening.  The gigaproject’s TROJENA is said to be the host for the Asian Winter Games in 2030, and is signing on new partners. Recently NEOM also announced that the Port of NEOM is now ‘open for business’.

In line with NEOM’s strategy and the Saudi Ports Authority’s efforts to transform local ports into globally competitive logistics hubs, the management of Duba Port was transferred from national maritime regulator Mawani, to NEOM in 2022.  Located in OXAGON, the home of advanced and clean industries in NEOM, the port, which is the primary seaport of entry to the northwest of Saudi Arabia, is renamed as Port of NEOM. Since the transfer, key capabilities have been expanded to match the rising volume of cargo coming into NEOM, including container and general cargo handling.

NEOM has announced the successful signing of an agreement with Riyad Bank for SAR 3bn in debt financing to develop the first megaproject destination – Sindalah, set to welcome visitors in 2024. The destination will be the first NEOM region to be successfully financed with bank debt.

The Red Sea haven is set to be one of the most ambitious urban development projects in the Middle East planned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.  And the island of Sindalah itself is set to offer an enticing glimpse of what the opulent NEOM city will ultimately embody.  It can be said that guests will enjoy a world-class yachting destination, three mega-luxury hotels, a golf course, an array of restaurants and luxury retail outlets.

Saudi Arabian government in waste management projects in 2023 is expected to drive demand for loaders, excavators, and dump trucks in the country. The government aims to eliminate 82% of waste generated by 2030. Therefore, government fund is also allocated for constructing new waste management facilities across the country in 2023.  Investment in renewable energy projects across the country in 2023 is expected to drive demand for mini excavators, cranes, and aerial platforms in the Saudi Arabia construction equipment market.