Saudi megacity Neom to be 'far smaller' than first envisaged, says report

Saudi Arabia's Neom megacity project is being significantly downscaled and redesigned due to financial constraints and a shift in national priorities. The centerpiece, a 170km linear city known as "The Line," has been radically scaled back, and the project will now focus more on industrial sectors like data centers. This change is attributed to stagnating oil prices and the need to reallocate resources towards more immediate goals like the 2030 Expo and the 2034 World Cup. The project has also faced criticism over human rights concerns, including the forced displacement of the local Howeitat tribe to make way for construction.