Saudi Arabia’s NEOM development has attracted significant interest from Japanese firms, according to Niall Gibbons, managing director of tourism for the Kingdom’s project.

Gibbons said a positive sign was the participation of officials from the Japanese government, including representatives from METI, JCCME and JETRO — the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry, the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East, and the Japan External Trade Organization.  Gibbons, who has been living in NEOM for five months, said that with design input from world-leading architects and designers, there is great confidence with regard to future-proofing the project.

Replying to a question on when NEOM will be completed, Gibbons said that it is a long-term project, but the first element of The LINE is due to be completed at the end of 2027. “Our first tourism project, which is Sindalah, which is my area of responsibility, is opening in 2024 and each year from then onwards — 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 — there is something coming on stream.”

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