- Saudi Arabia’s sprawling megacity, Neom, is considered an opportunity to live in the “new future”.
- Authorities want to fill 262 vacancies. The unusual papers show what it will take to govern the city.
- Responsibilities for a role involve creating a cheetah management plan.
Saudi Arabia is moving forward with its ambitious plans for Neom, a futuristic metropolis spread over 26,500 km² in the northwestern region of Tabuk.
First announced in 2017, Neom is the flagship project of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 – an initiative to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenues.
If construction goes according to plan, Neom will include Oxagon, an octagonal port city; Sindalah, a luxury island resort; Trojena, a ski and adventure resort; and a tourist center on the Gulf of Aqaba.
But the centerpiece of Neom is The Line – a planned zero-carbon city made up of two enormous mirrored skyscrapers that stretch 170km across Tabuk.
Officials say Neom will be a “cognitive city.” The idea is similar to a smart city, but expands the concept. In this case, the idea is to use technologies like AI and robotics to provide an ideal experience for residents.
But when – or if – Neom is finally up and running, it will take a series of unusual jobs to fulfill its vision as a revolutionary city.
Recruitment is already underway.
“Join us on a journey of visionary minds where you seek to understand, embrace culture, make a difference and create a legacy,” the project’s job board invites potential candidates.
There were 262 vacancies on the Neom website at the time of writing. Some would be common in any urban planning project: construction manager, engineer, digital marketing web ops and, perhaps at one stretch, golf course design manager.
Other functions required to run Neom suggest how futuristic, and perhaps a little dystopian, the city could be.
Technical and system services manager
Although it may seem like a standard technical job, this role is a management position for NEOM Community School. Candidates for Arabic and Islamic teachers, music teachers and “teacher of individuals and societies” are also sought for the city’s extensive education system.
The school is part of the wider Neom U project, a vast educational arm that appears crucial to the city’s vision as a center for research and innovation.
Neom is also looking for someone to fill the “head of student attraction role.”
Job responsibilities include “ensuring Neom is considered the most attractive place to live and work” and preparing the “brightest young minds” for careers within Neom.
Director of Personalized Health
Officials say The Line intends to prioritize the health and well-being of its citizens over transportation and infrastructure and will “leverage innovative technology” to do so.
The director of personalized healthcare is expected to play a crucial role in delivering on these promises, “guiding and defining Neom’s strategy to integrate genetics into personalized healthcare.”
The job description says genetic data will be used to identify health risks and develop health interventions.
It is unclear whether providing your genetic data will be a requirement for living in Neom. However, some experts have raised ethical questions about the planswarning that Neom could become part of a broader surveillance program.
Professional water mobility station
Advanced, zero-emission transport systems are fundamental to Neom’s strategy; and the project’s beachfront properties, Oxagon and Sindalah, are planned to be equally futuristic.
Water Mobility Station Professional is a role offered to those who wish to oversee the smooth running of Neom’s “Water Mobility Station”, or in other words, boat services.
Although this job may not seem to differ much from traditional marina management, you will need to speak Arabic and English fluently and be prepared to handle autonomous and futuristic vessels.
Aquaculture Fish Laboratory and Biosafety Professional
Not a job that most cities consider mandatory, the aquaculture fish laboratory and biosafety professional was one of the more unexpected roles offered at Neom.
The successful candidate will control and operate the fish laboratory, ensuring high standards of fish welfare and supporting surveillance and research activities into fish health and disease control.
The role is aligned with Neom’s sustainability ambitions, where humanity progresses without harming the health of the planet.
Furthermore, a thriving fish population would also support diving tourism. Developers said they want the Sindalah island resort to act as an “exclusive gateway to the stunning Red Sea.”
Lead reconstitution
Another work that highlights Neom’s supposed ecological considerations is lead reforestation.
This work requires someone willing to engage in Neom’s “trophic rewilding strategy.” They will help build wildlife corridors, monitor species and conduct vegetation assessments to “address the historical degradation that has left the land in a desolate state.”
Perhaps the best job on offer at Neom, the main rewilding contractor, will be developing and implementing a cheetah introduction and management plan.
Those with a background in conservation, ecology, natural sciences or a related field can take a step forward.
Despite Neom’s proclaimed efforts for environmental protection, some criticized the treatment of people who were reportedly expelled from the construction site.
In May 2023, three men from the Howeitat tribe were accused of terrorism and sentenced to death for resisting evictions in the area where Neom is being developed.
Neom officials did not immediately respond to BI’s request for comment.
