Saudi Arabia’s $8 Trillion Disaster

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In April 2016, Saudi Arabia made headlines around the world when then-Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled Vision 2030, a sweeping $3 trillion plan to reshape the Kingdom’s economy, society, and global image. The goal was clear: reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil and position it as a futuristic hub for tourism, innovation, and private enterprise.

The strategy was bold. It included cultural reforms, massive investments through the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and a wave of “giga-projects” like NEOM, The Line, Trojena, and the Red Sea Project. The Line alone was pitched as a 170-kilometer-long mirrored skyscraper city, taller than the Empire State Building, that would house 9 million people in a sustainable, high-tech desert utopia.

But fast forward nearly a decade, and the reality looks very different.

This video investigates the unraveling of Vision 2030. We examine why NEOM is behind schedule, how cost estimates ballooned from $500 billion to over $8 trillion, and why some of the world’s top architects and consultants have clashed with the Saudi government. We also explore the Kingdom’s struggles to attract top global talent, the social and cultural barriers that limit immigration, and the failure of sportswashing campaigns like LIV Golf and the Saudi Pro League to gain international traction.

Despite billions spent, core questions remain unanswered. Who will live in these mega-cities? Will investors ever see a return? And can a country with limited human rights, weak institutions, and a public sector-driven economy really become the next Silicon Valley?

This is a deep dive into the economics, politics, and social dynamics of one of the most expensive experiments in nation-building history. If you want to understand Saudi Arabia’s future, oil dependency, mega infrastructure projects, or the limits of authoritarian development models, this is the video for you.

00:00 - Intro
01:12 - Giga Projects
08:53 - Talentless Talent
14:25 - Tourism
18:29 - Conclusi