Clear Skies for Saudi Arabia’s “New Future” Project: Air Quality Assessment for NEOM

KAUST researchers have completed a comprehensive, high-resolution air quality assessment for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious new megacity, NEOM, located along the northern Red Sea coast. NEOM, a $500 billion project, aims to be a fully automated global hub focused on renewable energy, green infrastructure, and technological innovation. It is positioned near the borders of Jordan and Egypt, adjacent to the Gulf of Aqaba.

The air quality in the region is essential for ensuring the success of NEOM, and the research team, led by Ibrahim Hoteit, faced significant challenges due to the sparse availability of air quality data. In response, the team conducted a four-month air-quality monitoring campaign in 2018 and used advanced numerical modeling at high resolution (600 meters grid cells) to simulate air quality conditions over a three-year period. The team leveraged KAUST’s SHAHEEN high-performance computational facility to conduct the analysis.

The findings revealed that NEOM enjoys some of the best air quality in Saudi Arabia, although natural dust storms, common in the summer, can temporarily affect the region. The study identified key meteorological processes, such as differential heating over land and sea, which create land and sea breezes that play a crucial role in dispersing pollutants. This research provides valuable insights for NEOM’s planners, who will use this information to minimize pollution accumulation, manage heat islands, and optimize local wind patterns as part of the city’s sustainable design.

This air quality assessment marks the first in-depth study of the NEOM region’s air conditions, providing essential data to help shape the city’s development into a model of clean, sustainable living.

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