Ryan Knutson

She also said that NEOM is, quote, unprecedented in terms of ambition and scale. This is how NEOM supporters have often described it, as a breathtakingly ambitious, even utopian project. NEOM would be the next stage of human development, an experiment in a better way of living. But NEOM was also supposed to be something else, a practical solution to some of the kingdom's most pressing problems.

She also said that NEOM is, quote, unprecedented in terms of ambition and scale. This is how NEOM supporters have often described it, as a breathtakingly ambitious, even utopian project. NEOM would be the next stage of human development, an experiment in a better way of living. But NEOM was also supposed to be something else, a practical solution to some of the kingdom's most pressing problems.

She also said that NEOM is, quote, unprecedented in terms of ambition and scale. This is how NEOM supporters have often described it, as a breathtakingly ambitious, even utopian project. NEOM would be the next stage of human development, an experiment in a better way of living. But NEOM was also supposed to be something else, a practical solution to some of the kingdom's most pressing problems.

— From the beginning, MBS was well aware that leading his country into the future would be a tough brief.

— From the beginning, MBS was well aware that leading his country into the future would be a tough brief.

— From the beginning, MBS was well aware that leading his country into the future would be a tough brief.

But that would be difficult because of problem two.

But that would be difficult because of problem two.

But that would be difficult because of problem two.

Oil. If you had a job in Saudi Arabia, you likely either worked for the state-run oil company or your government job, let's say a teacher, was paid using oil money. Oil was what made the Saudi state run. It was oil all the way down. And MBS knew it couldn't last.

Oil. If you had a job in Saudi Arabia, you likely either worked for the state-run oil company or your government job, let's say a teacher, was paid using oil money. Oil was what made the Saudi state run. It was oil all the way down. And MBS knew it couldn't last.

Oil. If you had a job in Saudi Arabia, you likely either worked for the state-run oil company or your government job, let's say a teacher, was paid using oil money. Oil was what made the Saudi state run. It was oil all the way down. And MBS knew it couldn't last.

MBS started to tackle some of these big economic problems with social reforms. When he came to power, men and women weren't allowed to socialize in public. Less than 20% of the workforce were women, and there wasn't much popular entertainment to speak of. MBS began to change that.

MBS started to tackle some of these big economic problems with social reforms. When he came to power, men and women weren't allowed to socialize in public. Less than 20% of the workforce were women, and there wasn't much popular entertainment to speak of. MBS began to change that.

MBS started to tackle some of these big economic problems with social reforms. When he came to power, men and women weren't allowed to socialize in public. Less than 20% of the workforce were women, and there wasn't much popular entertainment to speak of. MBS began to change that.

Because how do you build a consumer economy? Give people stuff to spend their money on. MBS's social reforms could only go so far, though. This was still Saudi Arabia. It was still a bastion of conservative Islam, still governed by Sharia law.

Because how do you build a consumer economy? Give people stuff to spend their money on. MBS's social reforms could only go so far, though. This was still Saudi Arabia. It was still a bastion of conservative Islam, still governed by Sharia law.

Because how do you build a consumer economy? Give people stuff to spend their money on. MBS's social reforms could only go so far, though. This was still Saudi Arabia. It was still a bastion of conservative Islam, still governed by Sharia law.

Here's MBS in a Discovery Channel documentary talking about the genesis of NEOM. Northwest of Saudi Arabia, untouched, almost empty.

Here's MBS in a Discovery Channel documentary talking about the genesis of NEOM. Northwest of Saudi Arabia, untouched, almost empty.