Boss who ‘threatened to bury a worker in the desert and urinate on his grave’ at Saudi Arabian mega-city Neom is fired

The boss of Saudi Arabia’s flagship Neom project has been sacked in a major blow to the multibillion-dollar construction programme, according to reports. This follows allegations of bullying and claims that thousands of workers have lost their lives.

Nadhmi Al-Nasr has previously been accused of terrorizing employees, with a shocking claim published in the Wall Street Journal that he threatened to bury an employee in the desert and urinate on his grave.

Hand-picked by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi director has led the project since 2018, reporting directly to the royal family and overseeing Neom’s futuristic “giga projects” and far-fetched media campaigns.

The centerpiece of the ambitious project is The Line, a barely believable car-free metropolis that will stretch 170 kilometers through the desert, while also promising ‘zero-gravity living’ run by AI and renewable energy.

Al-Nasr’s departure amounts to a major reshuffle at the top of Neom, which is a key focus of the Crown Prince as he aims to change and diversify his country’s international image away from oil, as part of its ‘Vision 2030’ initiative.

Neom has not given a reason why Al-Nasr left the project, but sources have said so The times And WJ that he was fired.

Although the reason for his departure remains unclear, several allegations of bullying behavior have been made against the director in recent years.

In 2020, following the withdrawal of sponsorship of the project by two video game companies due to concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, reportedly held an emergency meeting with his communications team.

“If you don’t tell me who is responsible, I will grab a gun under my desk and shoot you,” al-Nasr reportedly said.

In another meeting, a recording of which was heard by WSJ, al-Nasr reportedly told staff: “I drive everyone like a slave… When they drop dead, I celebrate. That’s how I do my projects.’

Al-Nasr’s apparent resignation is the latest in a series of departures in recent months, with two other top executives said to have left.

His replacement will be Aimen Al-Mudaifer, the former head of local real estate at the sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Neom.

The PIF, which is driving Saudi Arabia’s economic reforms, has fueled a real estate boom in the Middle Eastern state in recent years, and Al-Mudaifer’s selection suggests the crown prince plans to press ahead with the project , despite the difficulties it has faced.

Neom has faced serious allegations about working conditions and safety since its launch in 2017.

Last month, a study claimed that thousands of workers die every year, partly due to horrific working conditions and human rights abuses.

Figures show that 21,000 migrant workers from India, Bangladesh and Nepal have died since the launch of Vision 2030.

This shocking statistic is supported by details of abuse and tyrannical treatment of helpless workers in the upcoming ITV documentary Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom is primarily dependent on migrant workers who move to the region in search of a better life, but are often forced into brutal working conditions for very little pay.

Many claim their passports are confiscated upon arrival, meaning they cannot leave.

In addition to allegations of poor working conditions, the project has been plagued by delays and runaway costs, with the original $500 billion budget now ballooning to more than $2 trillion.

An advisor involved in the projects, who chose to remain anonymous, told the BBC this summer that Saudi Arabia is reviewing its ambitious plans.

“The decision will be based on several factors,” he said. ‘But there is no doubt that a recalibration will take place. Some projects will proceed as planned, but others may be delayed or scaled down.”

Neom has been contacted for comment. Mr Nasr could not be reached.