Architecture Firms Urged To Rethink Involvement in Saudi Arabia’s Controversial Neom Project

Architecture studios involved in Neom Saudi Arabia are under growing pressure over human rights issues after receiving accusations. Even now, numerous organizations provide money to suppress human rights and stay silent, which is why corporate social responsibility questions arise. Tom Ravenscroft reports on the unfolding situation.

Allegations of Human Rights Abuses

In a short period, the BBC has provided recent reports depicting demeanors that Saudi forces are using deadly force to evict people to pave the way for Neom, a futuristic city. ALQST and Amnesty International stand with other human rights organizations and have urged architects involved in this project to cease due to these abuses.

Lina Alhathloul, an expert in this matter and the head of monitoring and advocacy at ALQST, said that architecture firms could not plead that they were unaware of the human rights abuses happening on the sites of Neom. She emphasized that it would be incumbent upon these firms to consider legal and moral responsibilities under UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and recommend revision of stake where it is proposed unless the adverse human rights result can be mitigated.

Calls for Accountability

Amnesty International has reiterated the same sentiments, calling on architecture firms to pay attention to the context of the building designs. Peter Frankental, Amnesty International UK's economic affairs program director, said there is no reason any company should operate in Neom without disclosing its activities. It concluded that self-regulation is essential for the companies. It stated that every company has to act right and consider the state of human rights in the country/region of operation.

Neom, from which The Line, a linear city spreading over a 170-mile-long ski resort and other tourist attractions, has been built, resides on the ancestral land of the Huwaitat tribe. The project has led to the displacement of approximately 20,000 tribe members, with reports of killings and death sentences for those who resisted relocation.

Last year, the United Nations Human Rights Council expressed alarm over imminent executions related to Neom. In response, Saudi Arabia denied any human rights abuses, claiming those sentenced were terrorists.

Silence from Architecture Firms

Following the BBC's revelations, Dezeen contacted the 23 architecture studios in Neom to inquire about their stance on the human rights allegations. None of the studios issued a public statement. Many cited client confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for their silence.

Neom, primarily funded by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, confirmed that all participating studios had signed NDAs. However, a spokesperson suggested that these agreements only prevent disclosing commercially sensitive information, not general commentary on the project.

ALQST and Amnesty International argue that architecture studios must question and pressure the developers and Saudi authorities. Alhathloul urged firms to leverage their positions to demand the release of those unjustly detained and not to accept work at the expense of remaining silent on human rights abuses.

Amnesty International's Frankental proposed that studios could collectively address these issues through industry bodies like the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) or the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Both organizations have indicated the importance of upholding human rights professionally.

Reputational Risks

Campaigners warn that continuing to work on Neom could harm the reputations of architecture studios. Alhathloul argued that firms should contribute to making Neom more respectful of human rights and legal obligations or risk being associated with the project's mismanagement and accompanying abuses.

Amnesty International highlighted that the growing awareness of these issues could impact stakeholders, including the firm's staff, who may have objections but cannot voice them due to fear of repercussions.

The Path Forward

The controversy surrounding Neom places architecture studios at a crossroads between lucrative contracts and ethical integrity. In this ongoing discussion, the behavior of these firms will not only determine the future of NEOM but also influence how the architectural industry addresses future human rights issues around the world.

Awareness The Neom project is still surrounded by controversies and scandals regarding human rights violations. This is a problematic choice for architecture studios because they are evenly positioned between ethical duties and reputation loss. As calls for accountability grow louder, the industry's response will be closely watched.