Importance Score: 78 / 100 🔴
A disturbing exposé has alleged that temporary settlements erected to accommodate laborers working on Saudi Arabia’s $1 trillion **NEOM** mega-city venture are reportedly beset by severe issues, including **gang rapes**, **murder attempts**, and **suicides**.
Living Conditions and Crime in **NEOM** Worker Camps
Over 100,000 workers hailing primarily from nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh reside in these camps, where crime and substance abuse reportedly prevail.
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Reported Incidents and Allegations
The troubling account, obtained by the Wall Street Journal, discloses that employees manage to sneak alcohol into the camp despite Saudi Arabia’s prohibition policies. Workers have also reportedly engaged in widespread altercations with security personnel.
In one harrowing case, a laborer reportedly attempted suicide by slashing his wrists after grievances about unpaid wages were allegedly ignored.
Several fatalities have occurred at the **NEOM** construction sites, with a British firm stating they found “no evidence” of implemented safety protocols within the multi-billion-dollar initiative.
The NEOM Project: Vision and Challenges
A Key Component of Saudi Vision 2030
Launched in 2017 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, **NEOM** is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a strategic framework aimed at diversifying the nation’s economy away from its longstanding reliance on fossil fuels.
Once complete, this vast metropolis is poised to span more than 263,000 hectares and house millions of residents.
The project’s signature feature, “The Line,” is envisioned as a colossal 110-mile-long structure designed to accommodate over 9 million people.
The Official Reaction: Steps Towards Improvement
In 2017, the CEO of **NEOM**, Nadhmi Al-Nasr was fired after he publicly postulated the idea of working a labourer to death by leaving them to die in the desert
According to recent admissions, the 110-mile structure will take about 50 years to complete due to various logistical and organizational hurdles.
In November, war was declared on the menial food served with struggles breaking out between workers and cooks
Worse, medical records now seem to confirm that within the worker’s camps there have been outbreaks violent uprisings this includes deaths by murder, unconfirmed gang rapes and suicides
Meanwhile, British firm Serco filed a scathing report of NEOM’s safety regulations suggesting they don’t even have an emergency plan in place.
Recent findings reveal that approximately 21,000 lives have been lost in the past eight years during NEOM’s construction. This is alongside the disclosure of many violent and near-fatal incidents. Extremely worrying of recent storylines its been revealed that while working with explosives on site one man was killed instantly another suffered a similar fate when a tanker driver reversed fatally over him.
NEOM reportedly vowed to better safety standards but, according to eyewitness accounts, conditions on the ground remain bleakly described as “the wild west.”
A spokesperson for NEOM emphasized that the safety and well-being of workers remain a paramount concern. Contractors must align with NEOM’s welfare protocols and any reports of misconduct are immediately investigated.
Saudi Arabia’s Upcoming FIFA World Cup 2034
This month, it was officially announced that Saudi Arabia would host the FIFA World Cup in 2034. This decision is accompanied by an ambitious construction plan to build or upgrade an array of futuristic stadiums for the tournament.