“Neom: Saudi forces 'told to kill’ to clear land for eco-city”

Geography Case Study

NEOM is a planned urban development in north-west Saudi Arabia

When completed it will cover 26,500 km² which is larger than the whole of Wales

Why does Saudi Arabia want to build Neom?

Why is the Huwaitat tribe extremely worried?

Abdul Rahim al-Hwaiti: terrorist or martyr?

This resource includes a variety of lesson activities to pick and choose:

Photographic Analysis: The Line (includes worksheet)

Which Geography keyword is the odd one out?

Which country is the odd one out?

Several slides to project and set the scene (locational knowledge, artists’ impressions of the planned districts)

Links to videos of the Neom development: ‘Saudi Arabia’s mega project’; ‘“The Line” under construction in Saudi Arabia’; ‘Neom: The dark side’

Question Grid: Neom (Who? What? Where? etc, vs is… did… can… etc)

The death of Abdul Rahim al-Hwaiti, a Huwaitat tribesman from the area where the Saudi government wants to build Neom. Abdul posted a video on YouTube saying he did not want money to leave his home. A day later and he was shot dead by the Saudi Army

Concept Map: Neom (35 facts, to be colour coded - Locations; Causes; Effects; Management; Supporting Data

Illustrated glossary: Neom (Peak Oil; Economic diversification; Population density; Desalination plant) - definitions given, students to draw their understanding

Thought Chains: Neom - using knowledge learned so far, students complete boxes (because… and so… Therefore… For example…) to show understanding using scaffolding for higher level answers (eg ‘Saudi Arabia needs to DIVERSIFY its industries…’; ‘The region currently has a POPULATION DENSITY of just 6 people per km²’; ‘Neom is / is not ENVIRONMENTALLY sustainable
(‘Planet’)…’)

Geo-Trinity: Neom - students show similarities and differences between the Saudi government, Huwaitat tribespeople and foreign tourists

‘Six Hats’: Neom: - de Bono’s critical thinking technique

Design a sustainable hotel for Neom - choose five (from twenty-four) features of a sustainable resort, then explain the decision (eg eShuttle buses between the hotel and public transportation hubs; Install ‘smart’ showers that limit their usage to a pre-set time; Stock locally-made Fair Trade hotel souvenirs rather than branded/designer items)

Stakeholders conclusion: Neom - students compare different opinions of the development with their own

Teachers’ background information: links to websites, including the original BBC News story and the official Neom site