Saudi Arabia — The CEO of Neom’s $1 trillion megacity project, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, has abruptly resigned amid damning reports alleging thousands of worker fatalities linked to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 initiative.
The leadership change comes as the Vision 2030 program, launched in April 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), faces increasing scrutiny over labor practices. While Vision 2030 aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy beyond oil and establish the kingdom as a global leader, recent controversies have overshadowed its monumental goals.
Al-Nasr’s departure was announced Tuesday, with Aiman Al-Mudaifer appointed as the Acting CEO. Neom’s official statement emphasized that the transition marks a new phase of operational delivery, maintaining focus on key projects such as The Line, the Oxagon industrial hub, and the Trojena alpine resort. “This new leadership will ensure continuity and efficiency as we advance our vast portfolio of projects,” the statement read.
Al-Nasr, a figure reportedly handpicked by MBS in 2018, has a history of controversial statements. According to the Wall Street Journal, he once remarked in a meeting, “I drive everybody like a slave. When they drop down dead, I celebrate. That’s how I do my projects.”
Allegations of Worker Deaths and Mistreatment Surface
The leadership shift coincides with troubling reports, including an ITV documentary, Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia, which claims that 21,000 foreign workers have died and 10,000 have disappeared since the Vision 2030 initiative gained momentum in 2017. The allegations have sparked outrage from human rights groups and raised questions about labor conditions on Saudi Arabia’s megaprojects.
In response, the Saudi Arabian National Council for Occupational Safety and Health vehemently denied the accusations, dismissing them as “misinformation.” The council stated, “The work-related fatalities in Saudi Arabia stand at 1.12 per 100,000 workers, positioning the country among the lowest globally in terms of workplace deaths.” The council also highlighted praise from the International Labour Organization (ILO), noting significant improvements in occupational safety.
Scaling Back on The Line Project
The resignation also follows reports suggesting a dramatic scale-back of one of Neom’s flagship projects, The Line, originally envisioned as a 170-kilometer linear city. According to Bloomberg, plans for The Line have been reduced to a mere 2.4 kilometers, targeting completion by 2030.
Despite the setbacks, Neom’s official stance remains optimistic, insisting that progress is ongoing across all projects. “We are advancing the next phase of our ambitious portfolio,” the statement continued, citing The Line, Trojena, and Oxagon as critical components of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy.
While Saudi Arabia’s government has dismissed the claims of widespread worker abuse as unfounded, critics argue that the reported fatalities reflect a deeper systemic issue in the treatment of laborers, particularly foreign workers. The kingdom’s response highlights strict labor laws mandating health insurance and protection from extreme weather conditions, but the allegations have cast a long shadow over the megaproject’s reputation.
As the world watches Saudi Arabia’s ambitious bid to redefine its economy, the abrupt exit of Neom’s CEO and the escalating controversies surrounding worker welfare could prove to be significant hurdles in realizing the goals of Vision 2030.
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