NEOM's Oxagon will open futuristic YOTEL hotel, with robot concierge in 2025

NEOM announces financing for the world's largest carbon-free green hydrogen plant

NEOM's Oxagon will launch first hotel with Yotel property in 2025

When I think ‘vacation’ Saudi Arabia does not come to mind.

[press release] Every day, new life is breathed into NEOM. From launching new destinations to establishing cutting-edge companies and hosting captivating events, watch what we’ve achieved so far.
NEOM in Progress - January 2023 | 2:43
NEOM | 221K subscribers | 584,080 views | February 12, 2023

They call this robot “Stedman”.

Neom: What's the green truth behind a planned eco-city in the Saudi desert? | 22 February 2022 | A Neom ad promises the city will be like a playground | Merlyn Thomas and Vibeke Venema | BBC News
BBC News

Cost soars by $3.5bn at Saudi Arabia's Neom green hydrogen mega-project as inflation bites | Recharge News | Agnete Klevstrand | February 6, 2023

An artist's impression of The Line, the 170km glass-fronted megastructure now under construction at Neom city, Saudi Arabia, where the Neom green hydrogen project is situated.
Photo: Neom

Sure, now. ;^)

https://www.resortx.com/neom-—oxagon/

Perhaps if you speak to the concierge you might get tickets to a beheading.

A discussion on what works well for Saudi Arabia's Neom Oxagon city project that is an industrial shipping industry port and what doesn't work so well.
An architect's thoughts on NEOM Oxagon #neomcity #saudiarabia | 6:04
UH Studio Design Academy | 28.3K subscribers | 1,956 views | March 4, 2023

Transcript
· Intro
0:00 · The Oxagon Project is an industrial city which
0:03 · wants to have the title as the biggest floating
0:05 · structure in the world.
0:07 · It is in the Neom region in Northwestern Saudi Arabia, and
0:10 · it's quite close to the Line.
0:13 · The primary advantage of the Oxagon is that it's
0:15 · close to the Suez canal, so it takes advantage of
0:18 · the worldwide ship traffic.
0:21 · So we're talking industrial scale shipments that are
0:24 · happening there, and it tries to position itself as
0:28 · an industrial hub like the world hasn't seen before.
· The Future
0:31 · It looks pretty impressive except a couple of things
0:35 · that don't make so much sense.
0:38 · One phase of the project aims to be completed by 2030, while
0:42 · the floating part is yet to be determined, it aims to be
0:45 · the best organized industrial seaport on top of having a
0:49 · lot of space for industry.
0:51 · So you can imagine lots of industries on an industrial
0:55 · scale being positioned there.
0:57 · They're clearly aiming at high tech and innovative
1:00 · solutions like sustainability, I imagine chip manufacturing,
1:04 · anything that requires high precision and robots.
1:07 · This looks like a very business friendly investment
1:10 · into the future, and I think it makes sense and compared to
1:14 · the line, it seems something that will definitely be
1:16 · achieved and it is important for Saudi Arabia to diversify
1:20 · from its oil strong revenues.
· Where
1:23 · So this project will probably happen, but does it need
1:26 · to happen where it is at the moment or would this
1:29 · be better suited next to Jeddah, which is also next
1:34 · to the same shipment route and expand the seaport there?
1:38 · What's the difference between putting it somewhere
1:40 · where there's nothing and somewhere where there
1:42 · is an existing town?
1:43 · The innovative companies that Saudi Arabia wants to attract
1:46 · to the Oxagon have world class leading workforces,
1:50 · and those would likely want to be in a world class city.
1:54 · It's one thing to be stuck, basically living
1:56 · in a seaport as nice as you make it, essentially.
2:00 · That's what it looks like at the moment.
2:01 · I'm sure you have a nice enclosed there, but what
2:04 · that one house more than 50, maybe 100 thousand people.
2:07 · It reminds me of a place that used to pass as a child
2:09 · very often, and that is the Newark Port, right next to
2:12 · New York Airport and it's this massive barren area.
2:18 · I can only see it from the bridges and motorways
2:21 · passing through it.
2:22 · Between New Jersey and New York, does anybody
2:25 · want to live in that area?
2:27 · Probably not.
2:27 · Would there be a New York next to it?
2:30 · Maybe if the line happens, but if the line doesn't
2:33 · happen, how is the Oxagon project going to serve
2:36 · the rest of Saudi Arabia?
2:38 · Again, we're talking about the massive infrastructure
2:41 · and shipment project.
2:43 · Looks like probably the biggest port of Saudi Arabia.
2:46 · What is it going to bring in and what is it taking out?
2:50 · The stuff that comes in, where is it getting shipped?
2:53 · We're talking industrial scales.
2:54 · It would likely want to get shipped to the biggest
2:57 · hubs in Saudi Arabia, like and Jeddah and Riyadh.
· Ambitions
3:01 · Even with the Kefala system controversies in the Middle
3:04 · East in regards to workers, workers' rights, the
3:07 · ambitions are phenomenal.
3:09 · The fact that they're investing money for
3:12 · securing the country's future is phenomenal.
3:15 · Remember, Saudi Arabia could be Venezuela, where the oil
3:19 · reserves serve the purposes only of royal family and
3:23 · a little bit beyond that.
3:24 · Instead of that, they're actively looking to
3:27 · diversify into the future and make the country
3:30 · attractive with the money that they currently have.
3:32 · That's fascinating.
3:33 · Now imagine if every country looked at a similar situation
3:37 · where they took the investment from oil revenues and from
3:40 · gas revenue and actually invested a lot of that money
3:44 · for diversifying the economy for the next century instead
3:47 · of siphoning off of it and enriching the ruling class.
3:51 · Of course, in Saudi Arabia, that happens as well.
3:53 · We all know that the Prince and all the princes, they
3:56 · live very luxurious lives.
3:58 · But beyond that, it is absolutely incredible
4:00 · that they're willing to invest in so many projects.
4:03 · And at the moment, for Vision 2030, there are
4:05 · a lot of other projects happening on a massive scale.
4:08 · So this is just one of them, but it's definitely one of
4:11 · the more ambitious ones.
4:13 · I just want to reiterate how important NEOM the
· Conclusion
4:17 · Line is within any other very, very ambitious
4:20 · project in Saudi Arabia.
4:23 · Basically having an absurd of a project as the line,
4:27 · which is 170 kilometer long skyscraper makes any other
4:32 · project, which is very ambitious, quite crazy.
4:35 · Now there seeing all of a sudden super real and
4:38 · super down to earth.
4:40 · Here, Oxagon is the largest floating city in the world.
4:44 · No problem.
4:45 · All of a sudden, this seems like the most
4:46 · buildable city in the world compared to the Line.
4:49 · So very clever marketing trick again, and an excellent way to
4:53 · justify everything else that's going on in Saudi Arabia,
4:56 · which is quite a lot in.
4:57 · Regards to architecture, we can't really judge this
4:59 · project too much because it's still very much
5:01 · in a master plan level.
5:02 · It looks more oriented towards industry than
5:06 · for a city to live in.
5:07 · It would have to have a small part of the city to house all
5:09 · the workers that live there.
5:11 · But beyond that, it looks like an industrial heartland.
5:15 · Probably the dreams of all industrialists in
5:17 · the world that wish to have easy facilities
5:20 · for shipment coming in.
5:22 · Going out and next to them, huge world class robotic labs
5:27 · and assembly lines with the firms that come associated
5:30 · with these kinds of companies.
5:32 · And having access to all that, that's pretty innovative.
5:35 · It remains to be seen how they will connect this to the
5:38 · major transportation centers.
5:40 · So a lot of the shipments from there not only isolated
5:44 · into it, but spread to the rest of Saudi Arabia.
5:47 · What do you think about this project?
5:48 · Do you see it as something useful to aide Saudi Arabia
5:52 · in the rest of the world, or do you see it as another
5:54 · marketing scheme by the team?
5:56 · Thank you for watching and consider subscribing to the
5:58 · channel if you like videos like this about architecture
6:01 · and see you next time.

Hey, at least I wouldn’t have to stand on line.

If this is the same company, YOTEL is in some major airports. Stayed in one at Heathrow during a long, long layover. Showers, smart beds, clean and very small “rooms” beat the lounges, even the priority lounges in the aiports.

No booking hotels overnight. Just a clean, comfortable place to crash without leaving the airport.

Guess the company is branching out into the actual hotel business now.

Sindalah Island (Supplied) [pic click loads MP4]
Exclusive first look: NEOM's Sindalah to showcase Saudi Arabia to the world
Jennifer Bell, Al Arabiya English | Published: 09 May 2023 | Updated: 31 May 2023

Yotel?

I thought that was a Rocky-themed motel in Philly.

:^)

Sounds something like the Japanese tube-beds.

Satellite Images Reveal Saudi Arabia’s The Line Construction Process
Serra Utkum Ikiz
December 12, 2022
https://parametric-architecture.com/satellite-images-reveal-saudi-arabias-the-line-construction-process/

kinda crappy robotic narration, script has some minor errors, but lays out four possible outcomes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYvOAXs5mOU

Transcript
	·	Intro
0:00	·	The Oxagon Project is an industrial city which
0:03	·	wants to have the title as the biggest floating
0:05	·	structure in the world.
0:07	·	It is in the Neom region in Northwestern Saudi Arabia, and
0:10	·	it's quite close to the Line.
0:13	·	The primary advantage of the Oxagon is that it's
0:15	·	close to the Suez canal, so it takes advantage of
0:18	·	the worldwide ship traffic.
0:21	·	So we're talking industrial scale shipments that are
0:24	·	happening there, and it tries to position itself as
0:28	·	an industrial hub like the world hasn't seen before.
	·	The Future
0:31	·	It looks pretty impressive except a couple of things
0:35	·	that don't make so much sense.
0:38	·	One phase of the project aims to be completed by 2030, while
0:42	·	the floating part is yet to be determined, it aims to be
0:45	·	the best organized industrial seaport on top of having a
0:49	·	lot of space for industry.
0:51	·	So you can imagine lots of industries on an industrial
0:55	·	scale being positioned there.
0:57	·	They're clearly aiming at high tech and innovative
1:00	·	solutions like sustainability, I imagine chip manufacturing,
1:04	·	anything that requires high precision and robots.
1:07	·	This looks like a very business friendly investment
1:10	·	into the future, and I think it makes sense and compared to
1:14	·	the line, it seems something that will definitely be
1:16	·	achieved and it is important for Saudi Arabia to diversify
1:20	·	from its oil strong revenues.
	·	Where
1:23	·	So this project will probably happen, but does it need
1:26	·	to happen where it is at the moment or would this
1:29	·	be better suited next to Jeddah, which is also next
1:34	·	to the same shipment route and expand the seaport there?
1:38	·	What's the difference between putting it somewhere
1:40	·	where there's nothing and somewhere where there
1:42	·	is an existing town?
1:43	·	The innovative companies that Saudi Arabia wants to attract
1:46	·	to the Oxagon have world class leading workforces,
1:50	·	and those would likely want to be in a world class city.
1:54	·	It's one thing to be stuck, basically living
1:56	·	in a seaport as nice as you make it, essentially.
2:00	·	That's what it looks like at the moment.
2:01	·	I'm sure you have a nice enclosed there, but what
2:04	·	that one house more than 50, maybe 100 thousand people.
2:07	·	It reminds me of a place that used to pass as a child
2:09	·	very often, and that is the Newark Port, right next to
2:12	·	New York Airport and it's this massive barren area.
2:18	·	I can only see it from the bridges and motorways
2:21	·	passing through it.
2:22	·	Between New Jersey and New York, does anybody
2:25	·	want to live in that area?
2:27	·	Probably not.
2:27	·	Would there be a New York next to it?
2:30	·	Maybe if the line happens, but if the line doesn't
2:33	·	happen, how is the Oxagon project going to serve
2:36	·	the rest of Saudi Arabia?
2:38	·	Again, we're talking about the massive infrastructure
2:41	·	and shipment project.
2:43	·	Looks like probably the biggest port of Saudi Arabia.
2:46	·	What is it going to bring in and what is it taking out?
2:50	·	The stuff that comes in, where is it getting shipped?
2:53	·	We're talking industrial scales.
2:54	·	It would likely want to get shipped to the biggest
2:57	·	hubs in Saudi Arabia, like and Jeddah and Riyadh.
	·	Ambitions
3:01	·	Even with the Kefala system controversies in the Middle
3:04	·	East in regards to workers, workers' rights, the
3:07	·	ambitions are phenomenal.
3:09	·	The fact that they're investing money for
3:12	·	securing the country's future is phenomenal.
3:15	·	Remember, Saudi Arabia could be Venezuela, where the oil
3:19	·	reserves serve the purposes only of royal family and
3:23	·	a little bit beyond that.
3:24	·	Instead of that, they're actively looking to
3:27	·	diversify into the future and make the country
3:30	·	attractive with the money that they currently have.
3:32	·	That's fascinating.
3:33	·	Now imagine if every country looked at a similar situation
3:37	·	where they took the investment from oil revenues and from
3:40	·	gas revenue and actually invested a lot of that money
3:44	·	for diversifying the economy for the next century instead
3:47	·	of siphoning off of it and enriching the ruling class.
3:51	·	Of course, in Saudi Arabia, that happens as well.
3:53	·	We all know that the Prince and all the princes, they
3:56	·	live very luxurious lives.
3:58	·	But beyond that, it is absolutely incredible
4:00	·	that they're willing to invest in so many projects.
4:03	·	And at the moment, for Vision 2030, there are
4:05	·	a lot of other projects happening on a massive scale.
4:08	·	So this is just one of them, but it's definitely one of
4:11	·	the more ambitious ones.
4:13	·	I just want to reiterate how important NEOM the
	·	Conclusion
4:17	·	Line is within any other very, very ambitious
4:20	·	project in Saudi Arabia.
4:23	·	Basically having an absurd of a project as the line,
4:27	·	which is 170 kilometer long skyscraper makes any other
4:32	·	project, which is very ambitious, quite crazy.
4:35	·	Now there seeing all of a sudden super real and
4:38	·	super down to earth.
4:40	·	Here, Oxagon is the largest floating city in the world.
4:44	·	No problem.
4:45	·	All of a sudden, this seems like the most
4:46	·	buildable city in the world compared to the Line.
4:49	·	So very clever marketing trick again, and an excellent way to
4:53	·	justify everything else that's going on in Saudi Arabia,
4:56	·	which is quite a lot in.
4:57	·	Regards to architecture, we can't really judge this
4:59	·	project too much because it's still very much
5:01	·	in a master plan level.
5:02	·	It looks more oriented towards industry than
5:06	·	for a city to live in.
5:07	·	It would have to have a small part of the city to house all
5:09	·	the workers that live there.
5:11	·	But beyond that, it looks like an industrial heartland.
5:15	·	Probably the dreams of all industrialists in
5:17	·	the world that wish to have easy facilities
5:20	·	for shipment coming in.
5:22	·	Going out and next to them, huge world class robotic labs
5:27	·	and assembly lines with the firms that come associated
5:30	·	with these kinds of companies.
5:32	·	And having access to all that, that's pretty innovative.
5:35	·	It remains to be seen how they will connect this to the
5:38	·	major transportation centers.
5:40	·	So a lot of the shipments from there not only isolated
5:44	·	into it, but spread to the rest of Saudi Arabia.
5:47	·	What do you think about this project?
5:48	·	Do you see it as something useful to aide Saudi Arabia
5:52	·	in the rest of the world, or do you see it as another
5:54	·	marketing scheme by the team?
5:56	·	Thank you for watching and consider subscribing to the
5:58	·	channel if you like videos like this about architecture
6:01	·	and see you next time.