The world’s biggest construction project is proving to be a haven for shady behavior.
A series of workplace issues are plaguing Neom, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious $500 billion city of the future, the Wall Street Journal reported. The project, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is facing mounting criticism over the conduct of its top executives.
High-ranking officials at Neom have been recorded making racist and misogynistic comments, according to the report. Wayne Borg, head of the development’s media division, was caught on tape making derogatory remarks about worker deaths and expressing racist views. In one instance, Borg reportedly said, “A whole bunch of people die so we’ve got to have a meeting on a Sunday night,” dismissing the recent deaths of three construction workers.
The project’s leadership is under fire. CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr has been accused of berating employees; one recording caught him saying, “I drive everybody like a slave.”
Adding to the controversy, Antoni Vives, a key figure in developing Neom’s centerpiece project “The Line” – a proposed 105-mile-long linear city — has a corruption conviction in Spain and faces ongoing investigations.
Allegations of financial impropriety also abound. Two senior executives, Melvin Samsom and Maliha Hashmi, were dismissed for awarding contracts to a consulting firm connected to Hashmi’s relative and Samson’s son.
All of this is on top of a financial pullback for the project. A Saudi government committee plans to pare down billions in spending on Neom and other major projects, according to a report in July. Lower oil prices and projected foreign investments created unforeseen headwinds for the country.
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The issues are casting a shadow over Crown Prince Mohammed’s vision for Neom as a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s modernization. The Massachusetts-sized project aims to create a futuristic city with its own set of laws and a liberal environment, but is struggling to attract and retain talent due to its remote location, cultural challenges and the political controversy often dogging the country.
The success of Neom is seen as crucial not only for the country’s economic future but also for the Crown Prince’s efforts to prove himself as a reformer to the rest of the world.