Is it true that 21,000 workers died building Saudi Arabia's the Line megaproject?

A documentary aired by British broadcaster ITV has reported that around 21,000 workers have died while building Saudi Arabia’s "The Line," a high-tech megacity within the NEOM project, raising serious concerns over labor conditions and human rights standards on the site.

According to the documentary, since construction began in 2017, at least 21,000 workers have reportedly died on various NEOM projects, and over 100,000 workers have gone missing.

Many of the laborers, primarily from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, described the working conditions as “horrific,” claiming they are forced to work 16-hour shifts and face mistreatment and inadequate wages, making them feel like “trapped slaves.”

Middle East Monitor, citing Newsweek, reported that Nepal's foreign employment board confirmed the deaths of 650 Nepali workers at NEOM, though the exact causes of death remain unverified.

The documentary revealed that five people have died and several others have been arrested after refusing to vacate their homes for the NEOM construction.

Saudi authorities, however, have strongly denied these claims, calling the statistics "misinformation."

They cited data from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, stating that the country has one of the lowest rates of work-related fatalities, 1.12 per 100,000 workers.

The council also noted that the International Labour Organization praised Saudi Arabia for improving labor conditions.

Recently, NEOM’s CEO, Nadhmi al-Nasr, who managed the megacity's construction since 2018, was abruptly dismissed without any official explanation.

Middle East Eye reported that al-Nasr allegedly admitted to exploiting workers, reportedly saying, “When they drop down dead, I celebrate. That’s how I do my projects.”

On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that several other executives were also fired, accused of mocking Islam and engaging in an altercation with an employee.