The ambition behind Saudi Arabia's Neom matters more than ever
The development of The Line, a new eco city, shows that nations in the Gulf are keeping their eyes fixed on the future, even in the middle of a pandemic
Cities reveal a great deal about humanity's vision for its civilisation. Today, some of the most aspirational urban projects on the planet are taking place in the Gulf, highlighting a sense of ambition in the region that adheres even as the world grapples with the challenges of a pandemic and its economic fallout.
Yesterday, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, announced plans for The Line, a city 170 kilometres long, as part of the Neom megaproject, a primary pillar of the country's Vision 2030. While this is a Saudi project, it fits into a broader, global framework of urbanism that looks to the future.
Environmental protection is central to the new city. In a video announcing The Line, Prince Mohammed said the initiative would produce no emissions and contain no vehicles. This is a remarkable goal in a country that holds more than 17 per cent of the globe's proven oil reserves. Instead, the project's architects propose, residents will never have to travel more than five minutes on foot to access services in their local area. To travel longer distances, the journey from one end of the 170km city to the other could take a mere 20 minutes.
Saudi policymakers are linking these environmental goals to the quality of life of its future residents. The project aims to eradicate commuting. The effects of this cannot be overstated. In 2014, it was estimated Americans, for example, spent a collective 30 billion hours commuting. Prince Mohammed has also committed to a city free of air pollution. According to the World Health Organisation, 90 per cent of people are affected by pollution's impact on physical and mental wellbeing. To eliminate it altogether would be a unique step in the history of cities since the Industrial Revolution.
The Line aims to protect the important relationship between humans and the environment. AFP
The project aims to eradicate commuting
Developers will also preserve 95 per cent of the surrounding natural landscape, driving innovation without losing sight of the region's beauty and all of the positive effects nature has on people's happiness and sense of identity.
The Line, and Neom more broadly, are the latest and grandest designs in a larger urban development boom that has swept the Gulf since the start of this millennium. Two decades ago, few would have predicted with confidence just how successful so many of these projects have become. Some of the most ambitious, such as Dubai's international financial district, DIFC, are now thriving, global centres.
These successes show what can be achieved in the sphere of development in the Middle East, even under the pressures of a global pandemic. Projects on such a scale, wherever they take place in the world, will encounter challenges. But the spirit of ambition and confidence are important in aspirational projects that also deliver results in economic growth and societal development. It also shows the world the direction a country is travelling. In Saudi Arabia, Neom and The Line show the world the nation is seeking a diverse vision fit for the future.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes
Five ways to get fit like Craig David (we tried for seven but ran out of time)
Start the week as you mean to go on. So get your training on strong on a Monday.
Train hard, but don’t take it all so seriously that it gets to the point where you’re not having fun and enjoying your friends and your family and going out for nice meals and doing that stuff.
Think about what you’re training or eating a certain way for — don’t, for example, get a six-pack to impress somebody else or lose weight to conform to society’s norms. It’s all nonsense.
Get your priorities right.
And last but not least, you should always, always chill on Sundays.
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience
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Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017 Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand Sector: FinTech, wealth management Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021 Current staff: more than 160 employees Stage: series D Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Day 4, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Not much was expected – on Sunday or ever – of Hasan Ali as a batsman. And yet he lit up the late overs of the Pakistan innings with a happy cameo of 29 from 25 balls. The highlight was when he launched a six right on top of the netting above the Pakistan players’ viewing area. He was out next ball.
Stat of the day – 1,358 There were 1,358 days between Haris Sohail’s previous first-class match and his Test debut for Pakistan. The lack of practice in the multi-day format did not show, though, as the left-hander made an assured half-century to guide his side through a potentially damaging collapse.
The verdict As is the fashion of Test matches in this country, the draw feels like a dead-cert, before a clatter of wickets on the fourth afternoon puts either side on red alert. With Yasir Shah finding prodigious turn now, Pakistan will be confident of bowling Sri Lanka out. Whether they have enough time to do so and chase the runs required remains to be seen.
