Exposing Violations in Saudi Arabia’s Neom Project: The Missing Workers and the Grim Reality of Human Rights Abuses

Saudi Arabia’s Neom project, a cornerstone of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, has been promoted as a bold vision of the future. However, behind the shimmering façade of futuristic cities and state-of-the-art technology lies a dark undercurrent of human rights violations and mistreatment of workers. Recent investigations have shed light on the dire situations many migrant workers face while constructing the project, as well as the ethical and financial mismanagement that threatens to overshadow its ambitious goals.

The Dire Situation of Workers in Saudi Arabia’s Neom Project
Saudi Arabia has long relied on migrant workers to fuel its large-scale construction projects, and Neom is no exception. Thousands of workers, primarily from South Asia and Africa, have been employed under the controversial kafala system, which critics compare to modern-day slavery. Under this system, workers are tied to their employers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, long hours, unsafe conditions, and a lack of recourse to change jobs or return to their home countries. Neom, touted as a symbol of the kingdom’s transformation, is now drawing global attention not just for its grand promises but also for the severe human rights abuses occurring on the ground.

The Missing Workers of Neom
A shocking report by the British newspaper The Sun uncovered that up to 100,000 workers involved in the construction of Neom have mysteriously disappeared. These workers, mostly migrant labourers, are believed to have been deported without proper documentation, abandoned without support, or worse, died due to poor working conditions and a lack of adequate medical care. The harsh conditions in which these workers lived and worked include extreme heat, long hours, and inadequate housing or healthcare, contributing to numerous deaths and disappearances.

These alarming disappearances are just part of a broader pattern of labor exploitation in Saudi Arabia, raising grave concerns about the safety and rights of the workforce tasked with bringing Neom’s futuristic vision to life. Despite these findings, Saudi authorities have remained tight-lipped, and the full extent of the abuse remains shrouded in secrecy due to strict government control over information.

Controversial Comments and Misconduct in Neom’s Leadership
Further complicating the project’s image are troubling reports of misconduct by Neom executives. A Wall Street Journal investigation revealed disturbing remarks made by Wayne Borg, a senior executive responsible for the media division of the project. According to leaked recordings, Borg made racist and sexist comments, referring to migrant workers from South Asia as “damn fools” and mocking women from the Gulf. These comments underscore a broader issue of disregard for the welfare and dignity of the workforce and indicate deeper cultural and ethical problems within the leadership of Neom.

The executive culture in Neom, described by insiders as toxic and exploitative, has also been criticized for its failure to address safety concerns, as multiple workers have died due to inadequate safety protocols. Such disregard for human life and dignity, coming from the very people tasked with steering Neom’s success, paints a grim picture of the project’s internal dysfunction.

Calls to Action
Human rights organisations, including Together for Justice, have been vocal in their condemnation of the treatment of workers in the Neom project and the larger construction industry in Saudi Arabia. Labor rights advocates have long called for the abolition of the kafala system, which traps workers in abusive conditions, and for greater transparency and accountability in large-scale development projects like Neom. The disappearance of workers, alongside the forced displacement of local tribes such as the Howeitat, who have faced imprisonment and even execution for resisting eviction, has fuelled growing demands for international intervention.

Together for Justice is calling for:

An independent international investigation into the disappearances and deaths of workers in Neom.
Immediate abolition of the kafala system and the establishment of fair labor laws to protect workers’ rights.
Greater transparency from Saudi authorities regarding human rights abuses in the project.
Suspension of international investment in Neom until these issues are addressed.
These calls have been bolstered by recent incidents, including the murder of Abdul Rahim Al-Huwaiti, a prominent member of the Howeitat tribe, which has become emblematic of the Saudi government’s ruthless approach to ensuring the project’s progress at any cost.

The Neom project, once hailed as a futuristic beacon for Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and global influence, is quickly turning into a symbol of exploitation, human rights abuses, and unsustainable ambitions. With thousands of workers missing, numerous deaths reported, and a leadership plagued by ethical misconduct, the future of Neom seems increasingly uncertain. For Saudi Arabia, the international scrutiny and condemnation surrounding the project could damage not only its reputation but also its ability to attract foreign investment.

Neom’s vision may promise a new era of innovation and prosperity, but without significant reforms and accountability, it risks becoming a monument to failure—built, quite literally, on the suffering and sacrifices of thousands of forgotten workers. The time has come for the global community to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for these abuses and to demand justice for the victims of Neom’s relentless drive for progress at any cost.