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Saudi Arabia is quietly shelving plans to build one of ​its most ambitious stadiums for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, two sources familiar with the matter said, after delays and downscaling *of the futuristic development housing it.

The NEOM Stadium was billed as an elevated arena in a glitzy 100-mile (160-km) steel and glass structure known as The Line, in turn part of the broader development known as NEOM.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of NEOM's owner the Public Investment Fund, confirmed in April that The Line was no longer ​a priority, and said it was not vital before 2030, the original delivery target for its first phase. He denied ⁠any projects had been cancelled.

However, according to two sources, plans to build the NEOM Stadium have now been shelved indefinitely.

NEOM and the Saudi government media ​office did not reply to requests for comment, while Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Sports redirected questions to the World Cup 2034 Hosting Higher Authority.

According to MEED, NEOM's stadium is expected to cost $2.5 billion. It lists the projected 46,000-seat stadium in its data as "on hold".

The stadium has no listed completion date, according to the data, which describes the remaining stadiums and facilities as in various stages of development, with completion expected between 2026 and 2033.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/saudi-arabia-quietly-shelving-neom-stadium-one-2034-world-cup-venues-2026-10-04/

The Ontario Place redevelopment and Therme spa project are on hold. The Supreme Court of Canada just heard arguments on October 15 regarding a constitutional challenge over environmental and heritage protections. Now, everyone is waiting on the Court's final ruling to see if the project can legally move forward.

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-place-legal-challenge-supreme-court-changes-9.7381587

Source: https://x.com/SaudiProject/status/2109266687648268738/photo/4

Construction of new facilities for the integrated entertainment resort zone "Primorye," including a world-class multifunctional golf resort, has begun in Muravyinaya Bay in Primorsky Krai.

New developments include the Oazis Spa and Wellness Resort, a spa complex with a restaurant and pool, and the Turtle Lake Beach Resort near Turtle Lake and Amba Beach. Capsule homes, integrated into the natural landscape, will be built here, offering a new form of outdoor recreation for resort guests. The project also includes improvements to the beach and surrounding area.

A separate development will be the world-class White Nights Golf & Country Club. The 130-hectare property will feature an 18-hole course, a clubhouse with a restaurant and banquet hall, indoor putting greens with year-round simulators, golf villas, and an eco-park with hiking and cycling trails. A 150-room hotel complex is also planned.

The first facilities are scheduled to open in 2027, with construction of the hotel complex expected to continue through the end of 2029, and the golf resort's full development is scheduled for completion in early 2030.

Source: https://cdprim.ru/tpost/a4gxjrum71-v-primore-startovalo-stroitelstvo-novih

Construction of Abu Dhabi’s Dhs6.4bn Sphere is gathering pace just months after ALEC Holdings secured the landmark contract, with the project now moving from early-stage preparation into active delivery.

ALEC was awarded the Abu Dhabi project in May 2026 by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Valued at around Dhs6.4bn, it is now the largest single contract in ALEC’s Dhs32.5bn backlog and is scheduled for delivery through 2029.

Speaking exclusively to Gulf Business, ALEC Holdings CEO Barry Lewis said the project has already advanced significantly since the award, with Atkins onboarded as lead designer, permit applications submitted and major procurement packages — including structural steel and technology partners — concluded. Ground works and piling are also under way.

Sphere Abu Dhabi will be approximately 150 metres in diameter and comprise two distinct envelopes.

The internal envelope contains the amphitheatre and immersive LED screen, while the external envelope — the Exosphere — houses individually controllable LED elements.

That creates an unusually complicated construction sequence.

“Each stage is tightly interdependent, and once that sequence is established, there is very little room to deviate from it,” Lewis said.

Source: https://gulfbusiness.com/en/2026/abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-sphere-alec-construction-update/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Topgolf Yas Island, Abu Dhabi set to open in winter 2026

Topgolf Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is on track to open its doors this year, marking the brand's second UAE location and one of the most anticipated additions to Yas Island's entertainment lineup. The venue is being developed by Miral in partnership with Viya, the UAE's authorized Topgolf franchise partner.

Spanning three levels and 6,500 square metres, the complex is built around a 19,000-square-metre outfield driving range fitted with TopTracer ball-tracking technology, and 82 climate-controlled hitting bays, including eight VIP bays, designed to cater to both first-time players and experienced golfers.

Source: https://topgolf.ae/abudhabi/secondary-links/news

WSJ’s Eliot Brown analyzes internal documents and satellite images to show how and why the world’s largest construction project came to a halt, and what comes next for Neom.

Eden Project Morecambe construction site:

It turns out this isn't a normal resort project. It was set up as a fractional residential development, which is a fancy way of saying they are trying to crowdfund the project by selling individual shares of the villas to private investors first. Because they rely on those real estate sales to get the cash to pour concrete, the whole timeline has completely stalled out.

Corallium Marine Life Institute in Amaala:



Source: https://x.com/SaudiProject/status/2101725585542176948/photo/1

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 16 September 2026: Red Sea Global (RSG), the regenerative tourism developer, has opened Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA, bringing a distinctive holistic health offering to the destination.

Designed by Heah & Co., with interiors by Studio Carter, Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA is located on Triple Bay’s largest cove and comprises 153 keys alongside 24 residences. The resort forms part of AMAALA’s secluded wellness core on the Red Sea coast, where nature and hospitality come together in a setting designed for reflection and renewal.

Source: https://www.redseaglobal.com/en/media-center/news/Red-Sea-Global-announces-the-opening-of-Jayasom-Wellness-Resort-advancing-AMAALAs-wellness-vision/

ZW, you always take such amazing pictures!! Thank you so much for all your efforts!!! ❤️

Originally Posted by zw

Nammos Resort AMAALA:






Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7502686857831477248/

Really hope they'll restart Trojena. I find this project both reasonable and achievable, while still being fascinating, unlike The Line, which is hard to imagine, let alone achieve.

Therme Group Korea unveils its first Schematic Design renderings for the Therme Korea Incheon project.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/company/therme-group-kr/posts/

Rixos Baghdad:



Source: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rixos-baghdad-residences_%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9-%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B3-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-activity-7501564838452572160-kKCO/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAB6DHsBsgu64x-WrdiBOoYM2GEXkUcAt_w

Saudi Arabia to invest $7bn in three manga-themed amusement parks near Paris

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund on Monday signed an agreement with the French government to invest $7 billion in creating three manga-themed amusement parks north-east of Paris.

The two leaders oversaw the signing of the €6bn ($7bn) agreement between Roland Lescure, French Economy and Finance Minister, and Abdullah Al Dawood, Director General of Qiddiya, a subsidiary of the PIF. "We’re not done surprising the world. Very proud of this achievement," Mr Macron said on X.

The Japanese manga series Dragon Ball, which became a global phenomenon in the 1990s, will be one of the themes of the new parks, Mr Macron's office said, without giving details on a time frame.

The parks, expected to create 22,000 new jobs, will be built near Cergy-Pontoise, about 30km from Paris.

Source: https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/2026/08/24/saudi-arabia-to-invest-6bn-in-three-manga-themed-amusement-parks-near-paris/

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced that Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will open its doors on December 11, 2026, further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global capital for the arts.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a museum of modern and contemporary art and will be a space for encounter and exchange, promoting a more connected and diverse global community through art. The museum has a unique identity and vision, shaped by Abu Dhabi’s artistic landscape and designed to reflect the United Arab Emirates’ stories and beyond, encouraging curiosity among younger generations about modern and contemporary art.

The museum joins a growing community of museums and cultural institutions in Saadiyat Cultural District, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, positioning the district as one of the world’s most significant concentrations of cultural institutions. Part of the Guggenheim constellation of museums in New York, Venice, and Bilbao, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi brings a distinct identity shaped by Abu Dhabi’s legacy, in a region that has been at the crossroads of culture and trade for millennia.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a defining moment in our cultural journey. The museum is shaped by the Emirate’s long-held conviction that culture is the most enduring bridge between peoples and a building block for forward-looking societies. It brings new perspectives to modern and contemporary art, shining a light on art from all around the world. As a key element of Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum will create transformative new opportunities for learning, creativity, and cultural exchange, inspiring future generations to explore their own potential. Here, everyone belongs and can see themselves reflected in the stories the museum tells, engaging with ideas and artistic voices from across the world.”

Dr. Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, said: “The Guggenheim Foundation is proud and delighted to be a longstanding partner with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi in shaping a museum of contemporary art of magnificent scope and aspiration. The museum’s art collection is uniquely local and global, centered in the region but with works from all continents. Through the many stories it will tell and invite, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be a source of wonder, a hub of connection, and a place of curiosity and joy for people from the United Arab Emirates and the world.”

Envisioned as a platform for dialogue, the museum brings together diverse perspectives across geographies and generations through modern and contemporary art. Spanning a wide range of artistic media including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, moving image, and new media, the museum presents art as a dynamic and evolving conversation across time and place.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi reflects Abu Dhabi’s role as a catalyst for artistic innovation and creative production, fostering meaningful connections between artists, ideas, and audiences. Placing the visitor at the center, the museum offers an open, exploratory experience, where each journey unfolds across interconnected narratives of time, place, and theme.

Designed by the late Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Frank Gehry, the museum is located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, a meeting point between land and sea. A rooted architectural landmark, it will offer a new perspective and invite visitors to be part of the curatorial journey of the museum.

Extending the visitor journey through interconnected spaces, the architecture of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is an integral part of the artistic experience. The museum is designed to impress at every level, delivering a powerful presence externally and an immersive experience within. The building features 30 galleries that unfold across the interior, connected by a central atrium and ten sculptural cones that punctuate the building’s dynamic skyline. Nine are clad in stainless steel mesh and one in onyx and glass.

Reaching heights of up to 88 meters, the sculptural cones provide natural ventilation and shade, enhancing the building’s energy efficiency while articulating its bold silhouette. Spanning 11,600 square meters of interior gallery space and 23,000 square meters of outdoor exhibition areas, the landmark encompasses a total built-up area of 80,000 square meters, reinforcing its role as one of the most significant museum developments, suited to the impressive size, variety of media, and experimental character of art since 1960.

Since 2009, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi has been building a growing collection of modern and contemporary art that will reflect and advance Abu Dhabi’s role as a catalyst for creative production and innovation in the arts. Guests will be invited to engage with art on their own terms, shaping individual pathways through galleries that consider major vectors of art since 1960, such as Abstractions, Popular Culture, Land, Language, and Storytelling.

The displays unfold connections across geographies, generations, and artistic practices, and will provide dynamic frameworks for understanding the art of our own time as a source of knowledge, expression, and connection while inviting visitors to explore art history through relationships and resonances rather than a linear chronology.

A landmark for Abu Dhabi and the world, the museum will deepen understanding, expand perspectives, and offer new ways to engage with the art of our time, positioning Abu Dhabi at the forefront of global artistic production, discourse, and exchange. More information about the collection and commissions will be announced in the coming months.

https://www.guggenheim.org/press-release/abu-dhabi-announces-opening-of-guggenheim-abu-dhabi

Yes, it looks like some shuffling has begun at Al Maktoum Airport.






Source: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LDEz2jTSZkGfZd799

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj3vjhLcH0A

The Mexican government has officially rejected Royal Caribbean Group's ambitious proposal to construct Perfect Day Mexico, a massive 200-acre private resort destination slated for the country's Caribbean coast. Environmental authorities shot down the project following intense pushback from local communities and ecological advocates who warned of irreversible damage to the region's delicate marine ecosystems.

Source: https://www.cndenglish.com/tourism/mexico-rejects-royal-caribbeans-proposed-perfect-day-mega-resort-citing-environmental-risks