Semafor reports Saudi authorities expect cancellation costs for NEOM over the next five years to exceed construction spending, indicating further scale-back of the once $1tn-plus megacity. The 2026–2030 budget includes SAR60bln (~$16bln) earmarked as expected payments to contractors to terminate long-term contracts, tied to penalty clauses. The allocation implies pausing parts of NEOM will remain costly even nearly a decade after Crown Prince Salman unveiled the plan.