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.
