Neom appoints advisory board members. Courtesy: Saudi Press Agency
Neom appoints advisory board members. Courtesy: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia's planned mega-city Neom hires industry veterans



Saudi Arabia's $500 billion mega-city Neom appointed 18 executives to its advisory board including top executives from the urban planning, technology, sustainability, energy and manufacturing sectors.

The kingdom's picks feature a who's who of Silicon Valley executives such as Travis Kalanick, the co-founder and former chief executive of ride-hailing app Uber, and Japan's Softbank Group chairman Masayoshi Son.

"The advisory board will help shape Neom’s future through its detailed knowledge and connections with potential long-term strategic partners," said Nadhmi Al Nasr, chief executive of Neom.

Neom is a planned futuristic high-tech city and industrial zone, extending into Egypt and Jordan, that is part of the kingdom's economic reform agenda spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to create jobs and attract foreign investment.

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The appointed members held talks with Neom chiefs at a meeting in New York in August to review its strategy and discuss updates on the project, the state-run Saudi Press Agency said.

Other advisory board members include Marc Andreessen, co-founder and general partner of Andreessen Horowitz, who founded software companies including Opsware, Mosaic, Netscape and Ning. Mr Andreessen also sits on the board of  Facebook, eBay and Hewlett Packard Enterprise among others.

Dan Doctoroff, founder and chief executive of Sidewalk Labs, is also on the board. Mr Doctoroff  was president and chief executive of Bloomberg LP, with previous roles including deputy mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding in New York and managing partner of Oak Hill Capital Partners. He serves on the boards of the University of Chicago, World Resources Institute, the US Olympic Committee, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Human Rights First.

Additional members of the advisory board will be announced as they are appointed, according to SPA.

NEOM is a major feature of the Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious blueprint to diversify its economy away from oil and modernize society. The zone is located in north-western Saudi Arabia and is set to include territory from within the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, to span a total area of 26,500 square kilometers.

NEOM’s contribution to the kingdom’s GDP is projected to reach at least $100 billion by 2030, according to its website.

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Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')

Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989

Director: Goran Hugo Olsson

Rating: 5/5

Sri Lanka's T20I squad

Thisara Perera (captain), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chathuranga de Silva.

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
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How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
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THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6

Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm

Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km

Price: Dh375,000 

On sale: now 

Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.