THE $1trillion futuristic megacity “Neom” has announced its latest groundbreaking development.
Directors of the project say they plan to build a jaw dropping hotel complex called Leyja which will be carved into the walls of a giant canyon.
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Leyja will be part of Neom – a scheme which is the brain-child of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the effective ruler of the desert kingdom.
Directors of the project claim it will open its doors to tourists in 2024 – despite not being built yet.
The ambitious feat – located in Saudi Arabia – is intended to end the country’s dependency on oil wealth and pave the way to a more sustainable future.
The city will stretch across 170 kilometres of desert dubbed “The Line” as it will only be a “land saving” 200 metres wide.
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According to designers, exciting features of the city will include an artificial moon, flying taxis and robot security – to name just a few of the mind boggling aspects.
Neom is set to be a tourist destination like no other and there are even plans for it to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
They will be hosted at the Trojena development – an ambitious mountain resort complete with outdoor skiing, a man-made freshwater lake and a nature reserve.
Leyja will start from the Gulf of Aqaba coast and its alluring waters in the west and will wind inland to form a magnificent natural valley carved between 400m-high mountains.
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It will have three state of the art hotels, designed by world leading architects to blend in with the natural surroundings that make up 95 per cent of the futuristic city.
The hotels will have 120 luxurious rooms and will operate completely sustainably to provide “distinct experiences”.
The first hotel is tailored to suit thrill seekers and will be carved into a cliff top – lending itself to keen rock climbers or elevation enthusiasts.
The second property will be closer to the ground and will function as as an “enchanting gateway” to discovery and exploration of the valley that continues beyond.
It will also have a striking staircase that will ascend from the canyon to the entrance of the property and will offer “unrivalled views of the valley in all its beauty.”
The final hotel is set to be a place for guests to kick back and relax – as it will be wellness retreat with a twist.
The retreat will have an impressive high-tech, reflective façade mirroring the surrounding beauty and valley walls.
Leyja will offer an “extensive selection of refined experiences” including fine dining and modern restaurants run by world renowned chefs.
It will also boast rooftop infinity-style pools across the three properties and will offer extensive guided wadi walks, and enthralling hikes set in the valley’s dramatic mountain landscapes.
Neom is being built from scratch and will be solely powered by renewable energy and will be 17 times the size of London.
Despite the prospect of a Jetsons-style ultra-modern metropolis being exciting to many, the project is shrouded in controversy.
Local tribes have been evicted to make way for the construction and those who protest have been met with brutal force.
Three have been sentenced to death and are facing execution for their role in the protests, while others have been handed long prison sentences.
United Nations human rights experts have urged Saudi Arabia to review the death sentences handed down to Shadli Ahmed Mahmoud al-Huwaiti, Ibrahim al-Huwaiti and Ataullah al-Huwaiti.
They are all members of the Huwaitat tribe and were charged with terrorism because of their resistance evictions from their land set aside for Neom.
The announcement of Leyja is not the only news surrounding the mega city recently.
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This month we told how Saudi Arabia are hoping to make Neom the centre-piece of their 2034 World Cup bid.
Saudi figures have already begun contacting senior figures in the European game in the hope of gaining backing for their 2034 bid according to The Times.
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