Hello guys!

So I recently read up a lot about the new Neom / the Line project and it sounds super exciting! I really hope it succeeds!

With that said, I noticed A LOT of the Western investors and just people involved in general are referring to Neom as a separate nation...not just an autonomous region in Saudi Arabi but almost calling it is own country. They are also saying that the citizens will not be called Saudis but instead Neomians....isn't that a TERRIBLE move for the long term? It reminds me of the whole Singapore and Malaysia issue where Singapore advanced and had its own identity and separated from Malaysia because of that. Wouldn't it be self defeating? Neom is supposed to be a project that elevates ALL of Saudi Arabia into the future economically and socially but yet these Western board members etc are referring to it as a separate state and they seem to be envisioning it as creating a new nation for expats like them in the Middle East....something about that seems scary to me.

Here is an example of what I am referring to:

"Mr McEvoy said Neom would be treated as its own state, separate from the rules that govern the rest of Saudi Arabia. This will make it more appealing to people considering relocating there, as well as tourists, he said.

“It’s an appealing destination to a lot of people because it’s a chance to help create a new country almost completely from scratch,” he said.

“Neom will be treated as a country within a country, with its own economic zone and its own authority. We need to make sure its laws and regulations match the ambitions of those we are trying to attract to work and live here.”

He also said people living there would not be referred as Saudis but would be called by the title “Neomians”.

“We have got about 2,000 Neomians living there already along with about 10,000 construction workers,” Mr McEvoy said.

“A lot of the people coming here to live and work will be experts in the fields of energy, water and health — we’re already attracting a lot of great people.”

https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/05/10/neom-saudi-super-city-to-have-millions-of-neomians-by-2030/