Saudi Arabia's Oxagon, Neom's advanced manufacturing city, has announced that the Port of Neom is now open for business.
Originally named Duba Port, it will meet rising volumes of cargo arriving at Neom, the country's much-vaunted city of the future.
The Saudi government aims to operate at net carbon zero levels, utilising 100 per cent renewable energy at source, making it the most sustainable next-generation port in the world, a statement by Neom claimed.
Given its location at the crossroads of global trading routes on the Red Sea, the port is expected to be a “critical enabler” for Neom and a catalyst for further economic development in the region.
Sean Kelly, Port of Neom's managing director, told The National the opening is a major milestone."
"It will be critical to the ongoing creation and operation of the Neom region as it grows and support broader economic activity in the north-west corner of the kingdom.
"We expect that seamless connection to one of the world’s busiest trading routes – and the other advanced and clean industries based at Oxagon – will combine to offer an attractive proposition to prospective innovators and manufacturers," he said.
Neom has invested more than 7.5 billion Saudi riyals ($2 billion) for development of the sustainable port.
“The Port of Neom will be pivotal to the continued commercial competitiveness, economic diversification and maritime trade ambitions of the kingdom,” said Nadhmi Al Nasr, Neom's chief executive.
“Our vision is to build one of the world’s most technologically advanced, efficient and sustainable ports with the first fully integrated and automated supply chain and logistics network, and this first phase of development is a step towards realising that.”
Neom will be powered by 100 per cent clean energy, through renewable solar, wind and green hydrogen-based energy.
What's The Connector?
The Connector is a high-speed railway that will run along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia and connect Neom’s port city of Oxagon with The Line.
Webuild and its joint-venture partner Shibh Al Jazira Contracting Company signed a contract this week worth €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) to build 57km of a high-speed railway in Neom.
The Line will be home to nine million people, who will live in interconnected societies run by artificial intelligence designed to coexist with nature, with excavation on this enormous project having now started.
Webuild will be leading the execution and operations, which cover viaducts, road bridges, and road and rail underpasses to facilitate train speeds of up to 230 kilometres an hour.
The contract included designing and building for the majority part of the Connector, a railway connecting Oxagon, Neom’s centre for advanced and clean industries with The Line, announced in 2021.
Officials expect the railway lines to create more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs for the Saudi labour market.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE’s revised Cricket World Cup League Two schedule
August, 2021: Host - United States; Teams - UAE, United States and Scotland
Between September and November, 2021 (dates TBC): Host - Namibia; Teams - Namibia, Oman, UAE
December, 2021: Host - UAE; Teams - UAE, Namibia, Oman
February, 2022: Hosts - Nepal; Teams - UAE, Nepal, PNG
June, 2022: Hosts - Scotland; Teams - UAE, United States, Scotland
September, 2022: Hosts - PNG; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
February, 2023: Hosts - UAE; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
