While the world may know Neom for The Line, a multibillion-dollar giga city set to be powered by renewable energy, Neom has other big plans, its chief executive tells The National.
Neom is championing sports, a part of Saudi Vision 2030, in a sustainable way, becoming synonymous with certain international events.
It is looking to become the annual destination of beach sports as it is hosting the Neom Beach Games 2023 including the Beach Soccer Cup, which finished at the weekend, triathlon, basketball and the Titan desert cycling challenge.
Nadhmi Al Nasr, chief executive of Neom, said it aims to "redefine liveability, conservation and innovation in industries".
Since July 2018, Mr Al Nasr has been responsible for leading Neom’s bold vision and programme.
He began his career at Saudi Aramco in 1978, then became vice president of the Kaust Development Programme.
By 2009, he was appointed by Royal Decree to serve on the advisory board of the Supreme Economic Council.
In 2017, he was appointed the interim president of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre.
"Neom will respond to global challenges and drive economic diversification in the kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, while redefining liveability, business and conservation through the advancement and innovation of various industries," Mr Al Nasr tells The National.
"Neom’s sectors will play a pivotal role in the success of the project, and in realising our commitment to economic advancement."
On Saturday morning, Jan Paterson, managing director of Neom Sport called the Beach Games a milestone in the company's history.
She told The National that there are plans for Saudi women to join beach soccer games in the future.
Joan Cusco, president of Beach Soccer Worldwide, was full of praise for Neom and called the Beach Soccer Cup “the best event of the season".
The final day of the men’s Neom Beach Soccer Cup action took place on Saturday evening in Neom, with Brazil winning the championship in their final against Japan.
This year’s event is the third edition of the Neom Beach Soccer Cup.
Japan and Brazil reached the final of the Neom Beach Soccer Cup 2023 after winning their final group matches against Saudi Arabia and Spain.
In the women's matches, Spain beat Brazil in the final on Saturday, to secure the championship title.
Mr Cusco said he hopes to see more women take part in the games in the next season.
Majid from the Saudi team told The National it is an honour to play for the national beach soccer team and particularly in Neom, where the environment is designed to support athletes and give them the best opportunities.
Many locals from Tabuk came to support the Saudi team and watch international matches at the Neom Beach Soccer Cup venue during the weekend.
Neom arranged buses for locals who brought their children to take part in the games and activities in the fan zone.
Located in the heart of the action in the Beach Games Hub, this year the fan zone held live entertainment and sporting activities for visitors.
They offered free games including Beach Volleyball, and a Basketball Tree, as well as a Slack Line, Football Pool, Tic Tac Toe Basketball, Foosball Table, Balance Board and Teqball.
Teenagers and adults enjoyed the Zipline and giant slide.
Omar Mohasin, a Saudi national from Tabuk, said he came with three of his friends to watch the game.
"We are sad that Saudi lost to Japan but hope next year they can be the champions," he told The National.
"Events like these are very important for the community and sports in Saudi Arabia. We are proud to be hosting the Beach Soccer World Cup."
The Neom Beach Games is a series of major sports held over five weeks.
Five major events attract more than 800 international athletes from about 25 countries, national federations and international rights holders in Neom.
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
