Sustainability and Risk Management in Saudi Arabia’s Giga Projects: A Case Study of NEOM

Abstract

This study critically investigates the sustainability practices, risk governance frameworks, and financial mechanisms underpinning NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s flagship giga-project under Vision 2030. Using a qualitative case study approach, supported by semi-structured interviews with ten domain experts, the research explores how sustainability is conceptualised and operationalised, how environmental, financial, and geopolitical risks are governed, and how the Public Investment Fund (PIF) influences financing and ESG integration. Thematic analysis in NVivo identified four overarching themes: sustainability conceptualisation and strategic alignment, risk landscape and governance structures, financing mechanisms and ESG integration, and future improvements through measurement frameworks. Findings reveal that while NEOM embeds ambitious sustainability goals, such as renewable energy and hydrogen production, governance gaps remain in risk management, stakeholder inclusivity, and financial transparency. Theoretically, the study extends the application of the Triple Bottom Line, Stakeholder Theory, and Institutional Theory to giga-project governance, illustrating how sustainability functions both as substance and symbolic branding in state-led development. Practically, the research highlights the need for enforceable regulatory frameworks, transparent ESG disclosure, and robust performance metrics to transform NEOM from a reputational project into a credible global model of sustainable urbanism.