Neom evolves from sci-fi to logistical bypass amid Iran war and Hormuz blockade (xataka.com)

• Neom port gains strategic importance as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Iran war accelerates Saudi Arabia's shift toward Red Sea logistics.
• The project pivots from utopian vision to a pragmatic logistics hub.

"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war has forced a strategic shift in Saudi Arabia. The Neom port, initially a futuristic megaproject, is now being used as a practical alternative route connecting Europe, Africa, and the Gulf without passing through Hormuz. The crisis has accelerated infrastructure development on the Red Sea coast, including Neom port and Oxagon industrial city, reducing reliance on the strategic chokepoint but introducing new vulnerabilities."