NEOM will be a Jetsons-style ultra-modern metropolis in complete contrast to the other very conservative parts of the desert kingdom.  Backed by Saudi's $500 billion Private Investment Fund, the group which purchased Newcastle United, the plans for NEOM are so ambitious that some of the technology doesn't even exist yet.  The city will be located on the border with Jordan and Egypt and will start welcoming residents and businesses by 2025.

NEOM is part of Salman's Vision 2030 plan to diversify Saudi's oil-dependent economy. The city will operate under its own founding law that is still being formulated.  Joseph Bradley, CEO of NEOM's Tech and Digital Holding Company, could not confirm if booze would be allowed under the new law, but said "everyone understands" the need to attract foreign talent and tourists.

Read the full story at The Sun (archive link)