But sentiment isn't entirely negative.

Steffen Hertog, an associate professor at the London School of Economics, says Neom's chances of coming to fruition are strengthened by its strong political backing in a country where just one person, the Crown Prince, calls the shots. And it's been reported that a decent 20% of the megaproject has already been completed.

However, the recent reining in of plans for The Line and talk of budget cuts and streamlining if oil revenues flounder have cast a cloud over the project. And with foreign investment lacking due to concerns about human rights, ecology, privacy, and feasibility, the likelihood of Neom ever being finished in its entirety – and certainly on time – seems increasingly unlikely.

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