Post by NEOM

At #FIIPriority Europe 2026, our Deputy CEO, Rayan Fayez, joined fellow development leaders to discuss how infrastructure is being redefined for the urban century. A key theme of the discussion was the advantage of starting with a clean slate. While most cities have evolved around legacy systems, #NEOM has the opportunity to design integrated energy, water, logistics and digital infrastructure from the ground up, creating systems that are more efficient, more sustainable and built for the industries of the future. Infrastructure should not be seen as a constraint. It is a strategic enabler and a source of competitive advantage. From energy and water networks to 600 kilometers of fiber connectivity linked to global subsea cable networks, NEOM is building the foundations that businesses and industries need to grow. The NEOM Green Hydrogen Project is a clear example of this model in action, demonstrating how world-class infrastructure can attract global partners and unlock large-scale industrial development. The same advantages are increasingly relevant for emerging sectors such as AI data centers, where access to energy, water, land and digital connectivity is becoming a decisive factor. We are also seeing these investments translate into real economic activity, with Port of NEOM handling growing cargo volumes and strengthening trade connectivity between the Kingdom, the region and global markets. In line with PIF’s 2026-2030 strategy to attract investment into the Kingdom, NEOM is playing a critical role by creating the enabling infrastructure that gives global investors and industry leaders the confidence to invest at scale across key sectors.