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Lecture on the Great Pyramids of Giza and Project NEOM

Jun 27, 2024

Lecture on the Great Pyramids of Giza and Project NEOM

Introduction

  • The lecture compares two grand architectural projects: the Great Pyramid of Giza and Saudi Arabia's futuristic city project, NEOM.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

  • Located in Egypt, considered one of the greatest architectural marvels.
  • Built around 5,000 years ago without modern machinery.
  • Consists of limestone, mortar, and granite.
  • One of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Project NEOM

  • Vision of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS).
  • Aimed to develop a pollution-free, ultra-smart living ecosystem.
  • Announced on October 24, 2017, during the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh.

Vision and Ambition

  • Home to 9 million people by 2040 in the Tabuk Province, Northwestern Saudi Arabia.
  • Everything within a 5-minute distance for residents.
  • Emphasized the use of advanced technologies like AI, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, and IoT.
  • Aimed to rival the grandeur of the Pyramids.

The Components

  • The Line: Series of skyscrapers forming a closed city, 170 km long, 500 meters tall, 200 meters wide.
  • Oxagon: Industrial complex with a floating octagon shape.
  • High-tech transportation: Hyperloop trains, flying bikes, cars.
  • Sustainable living: Indoor smart farming, zero-waste manufacturing.
  • First outdoor skiing destination in the Gulf.

Challenges and Criticisms

  • Massive estimated cost initially $200 billion, now projected up to $2 trillion.
  • Financial strain on Saudi Arabia, leading to seeking loans from international banks like HSBC.
  • Delay in meeting project deadlines, with only a fraction of the work completed on time.
  • Controversial displacement of indigenous Bedouin tribes; inadequate compensation and forced evictions.
  • Doubts about implementing high-end technologies and maintaining a truly carbon-neutral environment.
  • Various international criticisms and skepticism about the project's feasibility and sustainability.
  • Comparisons with past failed ventures by MBS, such as the Yemen military action and Qatar blockade.

Current Status

  • Reports indicate financial difficulties leading to halting construction activities by contractors.
  • Predicted completion time extending potentially up to 100 years if ever feasible.
  • NEOM seen as another potentially failed venture of MBS.

Conclusion

  • NEOM project reflects futuristic ambition but faces significant financial, technical, and social challenges.
  • The success of NEOM remains uncertain; it might end up as either a grand success or another historical failure.
  • The takeaway is the vast difference in ancient and modern architectural marvels and the challenges in sustaining such ambitious projects today.
  • The actual future impact of NEOM on par with the pyramids remains a subject of debate.

Your opinions on the future of Project NEOM and its comparison with the Pyramids are welcome.

Full transcript