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Neom: A New Destination in Saudi Arabia’s Political Landscape

Crown Prince Mohammed and the Sultan of Oman at Neom’s Center for Knowledge Enrichment. (SPA)
Crown Prince Mohammed and the Sultan of Oman at Neom’s Center for Knowledge Enrichment. (SPA)
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Neom: A New Destination in Saudi Arabia’s Political Landscape

Crown Prince Mohammed and the Sultan of Oman at Neom’s Center for Knowledge Enrichment. (SPA)
Crown Prince Mohammed and the Sultan of Oman at Neom’s Center for Knowledge Enrichment. (SPA)

A unique visit by Oman’s ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, has shed even more light on Saudi Arabia’s promising northwestern city of Neom, where Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz received his guest.

Official visits to the Kingdom have been curbed by the coronavirus pandemic, but with the world somewhat standing on the verge of partially containing the virus, state leaders are gradually resuming foreign visits.

Marking the visit, Omani and Saudi flags fluttered high over the streets and squares of the futuristic “Dream City.”

Moreover, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, accompanied Sultan Haitham on a tour of Neom’s Center for Knowledge Enrichment, which showcases the latest developments of Neom projects and sectors.

The Sultan was briefed on other significant projects such as AlUla, Qiddiya, Amaala and the Red Sea.

At the end of his visit to the center, Sultan Tariq left a message in the VIP register, praising the Kingdom’s efforts in building Neom and affirming that the cross-border city “will have an economic standing in the world as planned.”

Considered the jewel of the Kingdom’s mega projects, Neom started rightfully making headlines and assuming its suitable place in hosting critical political events that were held in other major Saudi cities.

Riyadh, Taif, Jeddah and Makkah were the cities traditionally known for hosting the signing of significant political agreements and witnessed events that shaped the entire region.

Today, Neom, together with other newly revamped Saudi cities, has started to become associated with the series of vital events that are part and parcel of Saudi Arabia’s political landscape.

This evolution can be tied to the Saudi leadership’s ambitious plan for national transformation and its decision to activate all domestic potentials.

Tourist, economic and investment sectors of the Kingdom have proven more than qualified to play a role in the future of both Saudi Arabia and the region.

For example, AlUla, one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula and home to Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, hosted a historic Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in early 2021.

The summit revived intra-GCC relations and united ranks at a crucial point in time to face regional challenges.

Meanwhile, the city of Dhahran, a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry, hosted the Arab League’s 29th summit on April 15, 2018.

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Damascus: ‘Pandora’s Box’ Opens for Its People and the World

Damascenes’ vitality quickly returns to the heart of Damascus (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Damascenes’ vitality quickly returns to the heart of Damascus (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Damascus: ‘Pandora’s Box’ Opens for Its People and the World

Damascenes’ vitality quickly returns to the heart of Damascus (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Damascenes’ vitality quickly returns to the heart of Damascus (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Visitors to Damascus today can’t miss the city’s busy, fast-paced rhythm. Traffic jams clog the main entrances, intersections, and markets, while schoolchildren dart around their parents, backpacks in hand, at the end of the school day. These scenes bring a sense of normalcy, showing that daily life continues despite the challenges.

Cars with license plates from across Syria—Raqqa, Homs, and Idlib—mix with Damascus vehicles at intersections and working traffic lights. “This is new for us,” said a local. “We didn't see cars from these areas before.”

Amid the congestion, as drivers jostled for space, the man joked: “An Idlib plate now means ‘government car’—we’d better make way.”

With traffic police largely absent, a few members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have stepped in at key intersections to direct the flow. Still, residents seem to manage on their own, relying on self-organization.

As night fell, parks, cafes, and the bustling Shaalan Street in Damascus filled with families and young people. Crowds moved between juice stands, sandwich shops, and shisha cafes, many with foreign or English-inspired names.

The famed adaptability of locals is evident in small but significant changes. People quickly adjusted to using foreign and Arab currencies, garbage collection resumed swiftly, and even rules for non-Syrians buying SIM cards were amended.

Previously, foreigners had to register with an entry stamp and local address. Now, with Syrian border controls relaxed and monitoring left to the Lebanese side, new measures ensure SIM cards remain traceable without complicating the process.

The “revolution flag” now covers private cars, taxis, and shop entrances in Damascus. Many stores are offering discounts on clothing and shoes to celebrate “victory,” while street vendors eagerly sell the new flag, urging people to buy it with cheers and congratulations.

It’s unclear who genuinely supports the change and who is simply going along to stay safe, especially among small business owners. What is certain, however, is that public spaces have moved on.

From the Lebanese border to the heart of Damascus, slogans praising Assad and the “eternity” he symbolized have been wiped away.

Posters and billboards have appeared across Damascus, especially in Umayyad Square, with messages like “Syria is for all Syrians” and “Time to build a better future.” The slogans call for unity and a shared future for all citizens.

It’s unclear if this is part of an organized campaign by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or just political improvisation.

Umayyad Square, now a “revolutionary site,” draws crowds day and night, eager to take photos near the historic monument and the abandoned statue of Hafez al-Assad. The scene speaks volumes about untold stories.

Once a key landmark of Damascus, the square is now Syria’s gateway to the world. Syrians from inside and outside the country flood social media with joyful images, while journalists and TV teams from around the globe report in multiple languages.

The atmosphere feels like the opening of “Pandora’s Box,” revealing both the good and the bad.

Journalists in the square, whom you later find in small local restaurants and hotel lobbies, bring to mind post-2003 Baghdad—another capital at a historic turning point, filled with people and emotions.

Like Baghdad, hotel lobbies here are full of contradictions, with journalists playing just a small role.

In these grand spaces, diplomats, UN staff, and translators sit alongside businessmen and contractors eager to capitalize on economic opportunities. While Damascus itself hasn't changed much, its need for basic services, especially electricity, is huge. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, with forced displacement, hunger, and fear almost touching the city's hotels and restaurants.

In these hotels, which have become a microcosm of Syrian society, Damascenes are meeting for the first time faction leaders and fighters from the north. Many of them, due to their circumstances, had never seen the capital or entered a hotel.

Their sense of victory is clear, but so is the confusion in their eyes and actions. For example, one might hesitate in an elevator, unsure whether to step out or stay, then greet you politely while avoiding eye contact.

In their military uniforms, with visible weapons and long beards, the fighters stand out in these historic hotels, with their elegant decor and refined staff.

This contrasts sharply with the ordinary Damascenes who visit hotel cafes and restaurants simply for peace and privacy. The fighters bridge the gap with their serious, guarded demeanor, though it softens with a joke from a friend.

Locals feel their “bubble” has burst, and their way of life has changed forever. Yet, most agree that nothing will be worse or last longer than what they’ve already experienced.