Saudi Crown Prince Announces OXAGON, the World's Largest Floating Eco-City
Saudi Crown Prince and NEOM Chairman Mohammed bin Salman has announced the creation of OXAGON, a company that is shaping the next stage of the NEOM master plan and represents a radically new model of future production hubs, based on a strategy to redefine how humanity will live and work in the future.
“OXAGON will become a catalyst for economic growth and diversification in NEOM and the Kingdom, which will further support our ambitions under Vision 2030. OXAGON will contribute to rethinking the world and the approach to industrial development in the future, environmental protection, job creation and the growth of NEOM. It will foster regional trade and commerce in Saudi Arabia and the creation of a new hub for global trade flows. I am glad to see that business and construction have already begun, and we look forward to the rapid expansion of the city”
The central urban environment, covering a large area in the southwestern corner of NEOM, is centered around an integrated port and logistics hub, where most of the city's expected residents will live. The unique octagonal design minimizes environmental impact and ensures optimal land use, while the remaining area is left open to preserve 95% of the natural environment. A distinctive feature of the city is the world's largest floating structure, which will become the center of NEOM's blue economy and drive sustainable growth.
“OXAGON will bring a fundamental shift in the thinking behind production hubs. We are encouraged by the enthusiasm of several of our partners, who have shown eagerness to start their projects in OXAGON. These pioneers of change will build factories designed with the latest artificial intelligence technologies to make a significant leap from our era into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Like THE LINE, OXAGON will be a fully cognitive city offering exceptional amenities for its residents”
OXAGON complements the philosophy and principles of THE LINE and offers exceptional livability in harmony with nature. Ideally located on the Red Sea coast near the Suez Canal, through which roughly 13% of global trade passes, OXAGON will become one of the most technologically advanced logistics hubs in the world, with modern integrated connectivity to ports and airports.
The company will create the world's first fully integrated port and supply chain ecosystem for NEOM. Port, logistics and rail delivery facilities will be unified, delivering world-class performance with zero carbon emissions and setting global standards for technology adoption and environmental sustainability.
A flexible and integrated physical and digital supply chain and logistics system will enable real-time planning, resulting in safe, on-time delivery, efficiency and profitability for industry partners.
OXAGON will be built on the most advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), human-machine synthesis, artificial and predictive intelligence, and robotics. All of them will be connected to a network of fully automated distribution centers and autonomous last-mile delivery resources to realize NEOM's ambition of creating a simple, integrated, intelligent and efficient supply chain.
The zero-emission city will run 100% on clean energy and will become a focal point for industry leaders who want to drive change toward advanced and environmentally clean enterprises of the future.
Seven sectors form the core of OXAGON's industrial development, with innovation and new technologies providing a vital foundation for these industries. These sectors are:
- sustainable energy
- autonomous mobility
- water innovation
- sustainable food production
- health and wellbeing
- technology and digital manufacturing (including telecommunications, space technology and robotics)
- advanced construction methods
Everything will run on 100% renewable energy. Many of the features of THE LINE that offer exceptional livability are reflected in OXAGON's urban landscape. Communities will be accessible on foot or by hydrogen-powered vehicles. Sustainable industry will be built around residents, minimizing commute times and ensuring exceptional livability, while nature will blend organically into the urban environment.
OXAGON will innovate to create a truly circular economy with a collaborative environment built on research and innovation: the OXAGON innovation campus will host an education, research and innovation (ERI) ecosystem to compete with existing global hubs.
OXAGON development is in full swing, with design work already underway for large production facilities. These include the world's largest green hydrogen project, a three-way venture with Air Products, ACWA Power and NEOM; the world's largest and most advanced modular building factory with Gulf Modular International; and the region's largest hyperscale data center, a joint venture between FAS Energy and NEOM.
With a best-in-class regulatory framework designed to support mass adoption, OXAGON will grow rapidly and welcome its first production tenants in early 2022.
