The Washington Centre for Human Rights expresses deep concern regarding the ongoing human rights violations associated with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious NEOM project. NEOM, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is marketed as a futuristic urban area powered by renewable energy. However, the reality of this project is marked by severe abuses, including forced displacements, exploitation of migrant workers, and violations of labor and human rights.
The NEOM initiative has led to the forcible eviction of local communities, such as the Huwaitat tribe, who have faced violent suppression from security forces for resisting their displacement. In particular, the death of Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti during a raid by Saudi forces in April 2020, while protesting the evictions, highlights the extreme measures taken by the government to suppress opposition. This incident, among others, demonstrates the excessive use of force against peaceful protestors and further illustrates the government’s disregard for human rights.
The Saudi government has also been criticized for its inadequate compensation for displaced families and the imprisonment of those who opposed the evictions. More than 40 members of the Huwaitat tribe were arrested in connection with their resistance to the project, with several sentenced to long prison terms and others facing the death penalty. Such actions reflect the government’s broader strategy to silence dissent, often through intimidation and legal persecution.
In addition to these abuses, the treatment of migrant workers involved in NEOM’s construction is equally disturbing. Many workers are subject to the exploitative kafala system, which strips them of their basic rights and places them at the mercy of employers. These workers often endure dangerous working conditions, including exposure to extreme heat and poor safety measures, leading to injuries and fatalities on the site. Reports of wage theft and delayed payments further exacerbate their suffering, contributing to the ongoing cycle of exploitation. Furthermore, the toxic work culture at NEOM, marked by verbal abuse, racism, and misogyny from senior executives, underscores the oppressive environment that migrant workers and employees must navigate daily.
The Washington Centre for Human Rights also raises concerns about the privacy violations tied to NEOM. The project’s reliance on advanced surveillance technologies, including data services from China, poses a significant threat to the privacy of its residents and workers. With unprecedented government monitoring and data collection, NEOM may become a tool for mass surveillance, undermining fundamental human rights to privacy and freedom of expression.
Furthermore, the broader implications of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record cannot be ignored. The Saudi government continues to violate international human rights norms through various projects, such as NEOM, which, despite its claims of being an “accelerator of human progress,” perpetuates systemic abuse and exploitation. The international community must hold accountable those responsible for these violations, including companies and consulting firms like Teneo, which have played a role in sanitizing the image of the Saudi government, misleading the public, and concealing the reality of the human rights abuses associated with these projects.
The Washington Centre for Human Rights calls for immediate action to address these violations and urges the international community to demand transparency and accountability from the Saudi government and its partners. It is imperative that all parties involved in NEOM and similar projects be held responsible for their role in the ongoing human rights abuses. The protection of human rights must be at the forefront of any development initiative, particularly one that affects the lives of vulnerable communities and workers.
The Washington Centre for Human Rights condemns these actions and calls for a thorough investigation into the human rights violations connected to the NEOM project and other similar ventures by the Saudi government. The protection of indigenous rights, migrant workers, and the right to free expression must be prioritized, and steps must be taken to ensure that such violations are not repeated. The international community has a responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity and justice, and the time to act is now.