Saudi Arabia originally aimed to complete major parts of the project by 2020, with an expansion completed in 2025, but fell behind schedule.
[10][11] By July 2022, only two buildings had been constructed, and most of the project area remained bare desert.
[11] In 2024, the project was reported to have been substantially scaled back from its original plan; however, this was denied by the Saudi Economic Minister,
Faisal F. Alibrahim.
[12]
Neom's construction has also been criticised for environmental and human rights violations, with expatriate employees describing abusive working conditions and members of the local
Howeitat tribe protesting against their forced expulsion.
[13][14] Around 20,000 people are expected to be forcibly relocated.
[15] Members of the Howeitat tribe have been killed resisting evictions, including
Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti who was killed by Saudi security forces under disputed circumstances.
[16] Three other members of the tribe were also sentenced to death for resisting evictions.
[17]