Saudi Arabia’s NEOM unveils plans for lifestyle community Norlana

Image courtesy: NEOM

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM unveiled plans on Wednesday to build an ultra-modern active lifestyle community, the latest addition to the $500bn futuristic city aimed at diversifying the kingdom’s economy away from heavy dependence on oil revenues.

Norlana, as the community is known, is set to have a capacity for 3,000 inhabitants among 711 properties, including mansions, apartments and beach villas that are integrated into the surrounding mountains.

Located on the coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba, the lifestyle community will have a 120-berth marina that will serve as an international hub for superyachts, with water taxi services available for residents and guests.

NEOM said an 18-hole golf course will be nestled among rugged mountains, alongside an equestrian and polo centre. Norlana’s amenities also cater to a diverse range of water sports including sailing and diving.

The new community has been designed to redefine contemporary and active living. With sport, health and well-being at the core of the community, residents and guests can experience their passions in an environmentally sustainable setting.

The launch of Norlana follows the unveiling of Leyja, Epicon, Siranna, and Utamo – which are also sustainable tourism destinations located in the Gulf of Aqaba.

NEOM’s diverse community

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman said in July that NEOM will be partly financed through a flotation expected in 2024.

The planned mega-city secured $5.6bn (SAR21bn) in financing and finalised contracts in June to develop its workforce’s first phase of housing expansion. It is expected to have a capacity for 450,000 people by 2026 and between 1.5 and two million people by 2030, eventually housing nine million by 2045.

Earlier in December, NEOM launched Topian, a new company that will redefine food production, distribution, and consumption by creating sustainable and innovative food solutions.

The futuristic city emerging in the northwest corner of Saudia Arabia is progressing forward with several core developments including THE LINE, Trojena, Oxagon, and Sindalah as infrastructure building unfolds across the region.

Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is the cornerstone investor in NEOM, a 26,500-square-km high-tech development on the Red Sea.

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