Incoming RIBA president Chris Williamson has defended his studio’s work on the controversial Neom mega project in Saudi Arabia, saying “it is not a decision I take lightly”.
In a statement written for UK publication Architects’ Journal, Williamson outlined his views on the decision of British architecture studios to work in Saudi Arabia or on the controversial Neom scheme.
“We all form our own beliefs”
“We all form our own beliefs, our own version of truth and that should be respected,” he told the Architects’ Journal.
“I’ve read all The Guardian and other critical articles and I’ve also spoken to many people more directly involved and formed an opinion, which is always of course open to change if there is new information.”
Weston Williamson + Partners co-founder Williamson will officially become RIBA president-elect next month after winning an election in July. According to the Architects’ Journal, his studio is believed to have worked on the high-speed railway that will run under the 170-kilometre-long The Line mega city.
The Line is the centre piece of the controversial Neom project in northwestern Saudi Arabia, which has been criticised on environmental and human rights grounds, particularly following reports that three men among communities evicted from the site have been sentenced to death. Saudi Arabia’s government has claimed the men are convicted terrorists.
“Until 2021 I had not visited Saudi Arabia,” Williamson wrote in his statement.
“I have since been four times, working alongside a diverse and talented group of architects, engineers and project managers on an incredibly exciting project.”
Williamson not worked on Neom for “well over a year”
Williamson confirmed to the AJ that his studio had worked on Neom, although said he had not personally worked on the project for “well over a year”.
“Although I haven’t worked on the project for well over a year – my particular commission was completed – I would be pleased to partake in a discussion about the ethics, the pros and cons of working abroad,” he said in his statement.
“I feel I have pretty good awareness and understanding of ethics and social responsibility,” the statement added.
“There was a time when I was working in USA and felt uncomfortable with what was reported to be happening in Guantanamo Bay or the plight of many prisoners incarcerated elsewhere.”
The UK in the 1960s was not a particularly tolerant place in many respects – it is important to look at the direction of travel of the country in question, not merely where they are now.
Williamson’s statement marks one of the first times that an architect involved in Neom has publicly addressed the controversies surrounding the project, which has drawn criticism from the UN Human Rights Council and Amnesty International.
In July, Dezeen asked the 23 studios known at that time to be working on Neom about the alleged human rights abuses, but none issued a response.
Two days after his presidential election win was announced, Williamson told Dezeen that his studio was not working on Neom. “No we are not working on the project,” Williamson responded when emailed in July.
Williamson said that he believed architects “should be expected to have higher standards than other professions”, but should make up their own minds on where to work.
He indicated that to make his decision about working on Neom he consulted with others working in the region as well as the UK government.
“My personal choices about where to work are always made following enquiries to architects and engineers I trust and admire who also work abroad – and also those who choose not to,” said Williamson. “It is not a decision I take lightly.”
“Where there is doubt about particular clients or regions I have called on the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office,” he continued.
“We follow the lead of the UK government” says RIBA
This position seems to align with that of RIBA. When earlier this year Dezeen asked the organisation about allegations of human rights abuses at Neom, RIBA indicated that it was looking to the UK government for guidance on working in Saudi Arabia (KSA), which it described as a “key UK Government trading partner”.
“We follow the lead of the UK government and will act on any government guidance following investigation of these serious, concerning allegations,” a RIBA spokesperson told Dezeen.
“As a signatory of the UN Global Compact, we ask all Chartered Practices to promote and uphold its universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption within their projects.”
Other UK-based studios believed to have carried out work on The Line include Zaha Hadid Architects, Cook Haffner Architecture Platform and Name Architecture. We recently rounded up all the studios believed to be working on Neom.
Neom is one of 14 giga projects being developed in Saudi Arabia as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan to shift the country’s economy from a reliance on oil.
