Neom has announced that it is undertaking the world’s most extensive earthworks operation, with contractors moving 2 million cubic meters of earth per week to construct the Line, a linear city in the Saudi Arabian desert.

The project’s promoter, Neom, provided a video update on construction activities, stating that foundation work on the 170-kilometer-long city is advancing rapidly.

Approximately 260 excavators and 2,000 trucks are operating around the clock to lay the city’s foundations, which is part of the £414 billion Neom project in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk province.

Denis Hickey, the Line’s chief development officer, remarked in the update, “The energy within Saudi Arabia at the moment is incredible.” He added, “We have done a lot of the foundation work literally and figuratively.”

Neom also claims that the world’s largest piling operation is underway on the Line.

Last year, Middle East business magazine MEED reported that 4,500 piles had been driven as part of the foundation works on the Line, with work reaching a peak of more than 60 piles a day.

Keller has been carrying out foundation work on the Neom desert scheme following the signing of an umbrella framework agreement in the summer of 2022.

Other contractors involved in the piling works include Al-Osais, Bauer subsidiaries, NSCC, Power China, and Trevi Group. Bachy Soletanche, Huta, and Saudi Baytur are also part of the framework agreement, according to MEED.

Jacobs and Jasara, along with Atkins, are providing project and construction management consultancy.

Aecom is responsible for the transport and utilities backbone infrastructure, including environmental and geotechnical support, for the full Neom development, while Bechtel is providing design, construction, and project management services.

Recent progress continues despite Keller noting delays with piling at the Line in a trading update for the third quarter of 2023.

Keller stated that piling had been delayed and that it was “taking steps to redeploy resources in the short term.” It also mentioned an “evolution of the design, which in turn has delayed further work orders.”

The first phase of the Line is scheduled to be completed by 2030.

Image credit: NEOM/ unsplash

Turkey’s quest for self-reliance in defence technologies has taken a significant leap forward with the development of its own stealth fighter jet, the Kaan. After being expelled from the F-35 program, Turkey has accelerated its efforts to create indigenous solutions to meet its defence needs.

The Kaan, Turkey’s fifth-generation aircraft, recently completed its maiden flight in north Ankara, marking a historic milestone in the country’s aerospace industry. With sleek design and advanced capabilities, the Kaan represents Turkey’s determination to assert its sovereignty in the realm of military technology.

Once a member of the American F-35 fighter jet program, Turkey’s expulsion from the project stemmed from its decision to procure S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia. This move irked the United States, leading to strained relations between the two NATO allies.

However, Turkey refused to be deterred by external pressures. Collaborating with Britain’s BAE Systems, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) embarked on the ambitious task of developing the Kaan, a project valued at $125 million.

The Kaan’s maiden flight, a spectacle of engineering prowess, showcased its agility and power. With its landing gear deployed throughout the flight, the Kaan soared to an altitude of 8,000 feet, demonstrating its capability to operate in various conditions.

Temel Kotil, the chief executive of TAI, expressed pride in the swift progress of the Kaan project. Originally targeted for a 2025 debut, the Kaan took to the skies ahead of schedule, signaling Turkey’s commitment to technological advancement.

The Kaan’s specifications are nothing short of impressive. Powered by twin engines generating 29,000 pounds of thrust each, the fighter jet can reach speeds of up to 1.8 times the speed of sound. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the Kaan is poised to rival its counterparts on the global stage.

Beyond its technological prowess, the Kaan holds symbolic significance for Turkey. It represents the nation’s aspirations for self-sufficiency and independence in defence matters. With the Kaan, Turkey joins an elite group of countries capable of developing and fielding their own fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

Haluk Gorgun, head of Turkey’s Defence Industries Directorate, emphasized the strategic importance of the Kaan. He noted that Turkey would not only possess a fifth-generation fighter jet but also proprietary technologies that few nations can boast.

The Kaan’s introduction heralds a new era for Turkey’s defense capabilities. With plans to replace its aging fleet of F-16 jets, the Kaan is expected to serve as the cornerstone of Turkey’s air defense strategy for decades to come.

Despite initial tensions, relations between Turkey and the United States have shown signs of improvement. Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s entry into NATO and subsequent deals for F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits signal a thaw in diplomatic relations.

The successful development of the Kaan underscores Turkey’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity. By charting its course in aerospace innovation, Turkey asserts its sovereignty and reaffirms its position as a regional leader in defense technology.

Looking ahead, Turkey remains committed to advancing its aerospace capabilities. Plans to manufacture 24 Kaan jets annually by 2029 underscore Turkey’s long-term vision for self-reliance in defence production.

The Kaan’s successful maiden flight underscores Turkey’s commitment to technological innovation and national defence. With its advanced capabilities and symbolic significance, the Kaan represents a monumental achievement for Turkey’s aerospace industry. As the nation looks to the future, the Kaan stands as a testament to Turkey’s resilience and determination on the global stage.

In conclusion, the development of the Kaan represents a triumph of Turkish ingenuity and determination. As Turkey forges ahead in its pursuit of aerospace sovereignty, the Kaan stands as a testament to the nation’s resolve to safeguard its interests and secure its future.

Image Credit: Turkish Presidency via AP

In a ground-breaking venture of clean transportation, German air taxi manufacturer, Volocoper, has successfully carried out an array of flight trials in Saudi Arabia’s anticipated city of the future, Neom. This progress is a leap forward in Saudi Arabia’s vision for sustainable and technologically advanced transport solutions.

The milestone sees the premier flight tests in Saudi Arabia of an eVTOL – electric vertical take-off and landing – aircraft, as acknowledged in a statement by Neom on Wednesday.

“The accomplished and secure trial flight marks a significant juncture for the aviation sphere in Saudi Arabia,” commented Abdulaziz Al Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

This advancement follows on the heels of Neom’s 2022 disclosure of a $175 million Series E investment in Volocopter, the German air mobility firm. A collaborative venture between the two entities aims to roll out electric air taxi services throughout the city, offering connections to diverse locales such as The Line, Oxagon and Trojena.

According to Neom, Volocopter’s eVTOLs will form a pivotal component of Neom’s innovative and sustainable multi-modal transport system, anticipated to run solely on renewable energy.

Neom affirmed in 2021 that it had commissioned an order for 15 Volocopter aircraft, with plans to initiate flight operations within the ensuing two to three years. The order includes 10 VoloCity passenger and five VoloDrone logistics aircraft, a move aimed at supporting the early stages of flight operations.

An analysis from global consultancy Deloitte, suggested that 2021 marked a significant year for the Advanced Air Mobility market, with eVTOL aircraft firms witnessing investments totalling $5.8 billion.

Lasting over a week, the Volocopter flight test campaign is the outcome of 18 months of cooperation between Neom, Gaca and the German firm. The collective endeavour aims to establish and expand an electric urban air mobility system and test bed within Neom.

The flight trials prioritised the Volocopter’s aircraft performance under local climatic and environmental conditions, as well as its assimilation into the local traffic management system.

With expectations to receive type certification of its VoloCity air taxi by 2024, Volocopter is gearing up for future commercial operations. The company recently initiated serial production of the VoloCity at its facility in Bruchsal, Germany, capable of producing over 50 aircraft a year under single-shift conditions.

The 18-rotor aircraft, boasting a top airspeed of 110 kilometres per hour, comfortably accommodates a pilot and a passenger.

Image Credit: Spielvogel on Wikipedia

The Gulf region could become a hub for blockchain technology after a London-based crypto firm Blockchain.com has reportedly been awarded provisional approval to operate in Dubai.

The company, which offers users a crypto wallet and is also a crypto exchange, said on Friday it had signed an agreement with Dubai’s crypto regulator Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and would open an office in the region and begin hiring.

This comes as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pushes to develop virtual asset regulation intended to attract new forms of business after Dubai adopted its first law governing virtual assets and establishing VARA as a regulator for the sector in March. Since then, crypto giants Binance and FTX have also been granted virtual asset licenses.

Image Credit: Choong Deng Xiang on Unsplash

Representative Image

SAN FRANCISCO — A former Twitter employee has been convicted of failing to register as an agent for Saudi Arabia and other charges after accessing private data on users critical of the kingdom’s government in a spy case that spanned from Silicon Valley to the Middle East.

Ahmad Abouammo, a U.S. citizen and former media partnership manager for Twitter’s Middle East region, was charged in 2019 with acting as an agent of Saudi Arabia without registering with the U.S. government. A jury found him guilty on six counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The jury acquitted him on another five charges involving wire fraud.

The case marked the first time the kingdom, long linked to the U.S. through its massive oil reserves and regional security arrangements, has been accused of spying in America.

A 2019 FBI complaint alleged that Abouammo and Saudi citizen Ali Alzabarah, who worked as an engineer at Twitter, used their positions to access confidential Twitter data about users, their email addresses, phone numbers and IP addresses, the latter of which be used to identify a user’s location.

A third man named in the complaint, Saudi citizen Ahmed Al-Mutairi, was alleged to have worked with the Saudi royal family as an intermediary.

The U.S. complaint alleged that user data of over 6,000 Twitter accounts was accessed, including at least 33 usernames for which Saudi law enforcement had submitted emergency disclosure requests to Twitter. Abouammo was arrested in November 2019 and released on bond. He had pleaded not guilty. The FBI still lists Al-Mutairi and Alzabarah as wanted.

Abouammo’s attorneys and Twitter didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.