Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil giant Aramco reported a $106.25 billion profit in 2024 on Tuesday, down 12% from the prior year as lower energy prices now squeeze the kingdom's multi-trillion-dollar development plans.

Already, Saudi's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been digging a straight-line city in the desert for his $500 billion project at NEOM in Saudi Arabia's western desert on the Red Sea. He also will need to build tens of billions of dollars' worth of new stadiums and infrastructure ahead of the kingdom hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup.