NEOM (www.neom.com) is the World’s first special zone smart city located in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia, covering 26,500 sq km and stretching over three countries (Saudi, Egypt and Jordan). NEOM is set to become a new vibrant destination and leading global hub that exemplifies the future of human civilisation by offering its inhabitants an idyllic lifestyle combined with exceptional economic prospects. NEOM seeks to be a catalyst for change and a new paradigm for human habitation, focusing on industries including renewables, biotechnology, sustainable food production, advanced manufacturing, media and entertainment. NEOM is a megaproject costing over $500 Billion and backed by the Saudi Government (https://youtu.be/BXtNXIKaolk).

The name NEOM is constructed from two words, with the first three letters from the Greek prefix ‘‘neo’’ meaning “new”, and the fourth letter is from the abbreviation of “Mostaqbal” (an Arabic word, مستقبل, meaning “future).