NEOM Starts Construction of Housing Complexes to Accommodate Over 30,000 Workers

Parties signing a contract to construct residential complexes in NEOM (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Parties signing a contract to construct residential complexes in NEOM (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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NEOM Starts Construction of Housing Complexes to Accommodate Over 30,000 Workers

Parties signing a contract to construct residential complexes in NEOM (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Parties signing a contract to construct residential complexes in NEOM (Asharq Al-Awsat)

NEOM City has started building the residential area by awarding contracts for construction, financing, and operation of residential complexes to two national companies.

These contracts are NEOM’s first investment opportunities offered to construction companies to work on the project.

The residential area will provide workers with a lifestyle aimed at creating a healthy working environment in line with NEOM's objectives, as life quality is one of the project’s main pillars.

Two Saudi companies, Al-Tamimi Group and Saudi Arabian Trading & Construction Co. (SATCO), won contracts for the construction of the complexes, with a capacity to house over 30,000 workers.

The contract allows the companies to operate the housing for 10 years.

The areas will be part of a “Construction Village,” which NEOM plans to expand to accommodate more than 100,000 workers.

The residential area is an extension of other logistics facilities to facilitate the movement of construction workers to the project site.

This was preceded by the opening of “NEOM Bay” Airport to be a commercial airport with regular weekly flights connecting NEOM with the capital, Riyadh.

“We expect the work on developing such a project to last for many years, so moving to NEOM for work and life for a long time is critical,” NEOM Chief Executive Nadhmi al-Nasr said.

For this reason, he added: “We were keen to provide high life quality for whoever moves to work and live there and provide an investment opportunity for developers in line with NEOM’s objectives to attract investors.”

“The awarding of these contracts is another milestone in our journey to turn the NEOM dream into a reality,” Nasr noted.

Such a megaproject “requires manpower to settle there for years to come,” he stressed.



Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Designation of 3 Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist 

This 2011 photo shows a Muslim Brotherhood office in Amman, Jordan. (AFP)
This 2011 photo shows a Muslim Brotherhood office in Amman, Jordan. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Designation of 3 Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist 

This 2011 photo shows a Muslim Brotherhood office in Amman, Jordan. (AFP)
This 2011 photo shows a Muslim Brotherhood office in Amman, Jordan. (AFP)

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed on Wednesday the United States' designation of the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations.

The ministry stressed the Kingdom’s condemnation of extremism and terrorism, its support for all that achieves security, stability, and prosperity of Arab countries, and the security of the region and the world.


Islamic Military Coalition Launches ‘Competence’ Military Strategic Initiative in Sierra Leone

Officials are seen at Tuesday's launch. (SPA)
Officials are seen at Tuesday's launch. (SPA)
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Islamic Military Coalition Launches ‘Competence’ Military Strategic Initiative in Sierra Leone

Officials are seen at Tuesday's launch. (SPA)
Officials are seen at Tuesday's launch. (SPA)

The Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) launched on Tuesday the “Competence” military strategic training for counter-terrorism in Sierra Leone.

The launch was attended by Sierra Leonean Minister of Internal Affairs Morie Lengor, IMCTC Secretary General of the Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Pilot Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, senior military and security officials, civil representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Republic of Sierra Leone.

The initiative runs from January 13 to February 3, targeting the training and capacity building of 30 military and security personnel through an intensive 15-day program focused on counter-terrorism, including handling explosives, improvised devices, and unexploded ordnance, while enhancing the operational readiness of specialized forces.

The training aims to develop the skills and capabilities of personnel in counter-terrorism units and facilitate the transfer of advanced professional knowledge and expertise among member states, enabling them to address complex terrorist threats with high-level scientific and professional methods.


Saudi Govt Rejects Any Attempts to Undermine Somalia’s Sovereignty

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Rejects Any Attempts to Undermine Somalia’s Sovereignty

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government stressed on Tuesday the Kingdom’s rejection of any attempts “to create parallel entities that undermine Somalia's unity, territorial integrity, or national sovereignty.”

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The Cabinet welcomed the outcomes of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's extraordinary meeting on Somalia in Jeddah that stressed the Kingdom’s stance on Somalia.

The Cabinet reviewed recent high-level discussions between the Kingdom and various countries, focusing on regional developments, ongoing efforts to anchor security and peace, and the Kingdom's commitment to multilateral initiatives that drive global stability and foster collective responses to shared challenges.

The Cabinet reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian cause, stressing the Kingdom's unwavering support for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. These efforts aim to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and to establish an independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Cabinet commended the successful conclusion of the Gulf Shield 2026 joint military exercise, hosted by Saudi Arabia. Featuring the air and air defense forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the GCC Unified Military Command, the exercise underscored the commitment to boosting regional defense cooperation and strengthening collective military readiness.

The Cabinet reviewed several high-profile economic events hosted by the Kingdom, specifically highlighting the Saudi-Japan Ministerial Investment Forum and the Saudi-Canadian Business and Investment Forum. The summits resulted in numerous memoranda of understanding across strategic sectors, including space, cybersecurity, ICT, manufacturing, education, finance, water, and agriculture.