Updated January 26, 2025:

In latest news, the Trojena desert ski project has been ruled out in hosting the 2029 Asian Winter games following a scale back on the NEOM development. Saudi Arabia’s plan to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games has been postponed. Furthermore, organizers have confirmed that the event will be rescheduled to a later date yet to be announced. The decision was announced over the weekend by the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The move followed discussions on the future delivery of the games. In a joint statement, the two bodies said they had agreed on an updated hosting framework. “The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia have agreed on an updated framework for future hosting of the Asian Winter Games, confirming the postponement of the 2029 edition to a later date to be announced in due course.” The games were set to take place at Trojena, the mountain destination under development as part of the Neom giga-project. Saudi Arabia was set to become the first Middle Eastern country to host the Asian Winter Games. It would have been a significant milestone aligned with the kingdom’s wider sports, tourism and economic diversification agenda. Saudi Arabia will now host a series of standalone winter sports events in the coming years, ahead of staging the full multi-sport games. “These competitions are designed to promote winter sports while providing additional preparation time to support wider regional representation at future Asian winter events,” the statement said.

October 14, 2025:

The Trojena Ski Village Project is a mixed-use development planned within the Trojena district of NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia. The project involves the construction of a large-scale ski village. NEOM has indicated plans to retender the main construction contract in the coming months. Trojena previously received final contractor offers for the project in May, followed by a request for revised submissions after an addendum was issued earlier in the year.

The Ski Village is designed as a superstructure comprising five zones extending from ground level to roof level and is planned to integrate with the surrounding mountainous terrain. The development is set to include hotels, residential units, and retail facilities and has been designed by Hong Kong-based architecture firm Aedas. The project forms a key component of the Trojena development, which was selected in October 2022 to host the 10th Asian Winter Games scheduled for 2029 in NEOM. NEOM is also scaling down on the world’s first linear city, the Line as the crown prince’s ambitious plans go up in smoke.

Saudi Arabia is involved in various mega projects other than the Trojena desert ski project as it advances New Murabba development. In latest insights, U.S.-based Parsons has come on board in the the world’s largest modern downtown project, the New Murabba development in Saudi Arabia. The company has announced that it has secured a five-year contract from the New Murabba Development Company.

This comprises of 14 million sq. m of living, working and entertainment spaces. At the heart of the New Murabba project will be the Mukaab, an iconic, cube shaped skyscraper. The significance is monumental as it is expected to be the largest built structure of its kind in the world. The 60-month contract also provides an optimal opportunity for Parsons to expand its footprint in the Middle East.

The scope of the contract entails provision of designs and construction technical support. Furthermore, they will also provide design and engineering services for infrastructure. Their role is Infrastructure Lead Design Consultant (ILDC) which covers various infrastructural aspects of the New Murabba development. It will support the New Murabba project by creating the development’s downtown experience.

August 19, 2025: The construction of NEOM’s Trojena desert ski project is one that is providing challenges in the Saudi Prince’s $1.5 trillion plan. Insights into the project’s challenges are coming to light as the Kingdom has scaled back major projects. One of the major challenges that the desert ski project faces is combating the high temperatures in the region. Trojena is part of the planned megacity of NEOM and is designated to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029. However, in a region with little snowfall it is becoming one of the most difficult tests to pull off.

Estimated to cost approximately $19 billion, the undertaking of the project was to be done by the end of 2026. However, the Saudi Kingdom is now confronting the challenge of getting Trojena ready in time for the games. Regulations on international events often demand that key infrastructure is in place well in advance. The setback provides the potential that the Gulf nation may miss some important deadlines ahead of the games. Other than the Trojena desert ski, Saudi Arabia is expected to host the Asian Games in 2034 as it continues the construction of Qiddiya’s National Athletic Stadium in Qiddiya Sports Park.

Project Factsheet:

Significance:

• Key tourism anchor of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM megacity, supporting Vision 2030 diversification goals.
• First-ever outdoor ski resort in the Arabian Peninsula, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global tourism hub.
• Expected to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games

Infrastructure:

• Situated 50 km from the Gulf of Aqaba at elevations between 1,500–2,600 meters.
• Features year-round skiing, luxury residences, hotels, wellness retreats, and retail facilities.
• Includes artificial lakes, nature reserves, and advanced transport links connecting NEOM districts.

Developer:

• Developed under NEOM Company, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
• Guided by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 for economic diversification.
• Designed with global partners in architecture, engineering, and sustainable tourism.

Funding:

• Estimated cost of $500 billion for the wider NEOM project, with Trojena as a key component.
• Funded primarily through the Saudi PIF, supported by foreign investments and joint ventures.
• Focus on sustainable financing aligned with global tourism and green development goals.

Challenges:

• Concerns over environmental sustainability in a desert climate.
• High infrastructure costs and reliance on advanced water/energy technologies.
• Political, economic, and ESG-related scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s megaproject ambitions.

The State of Affairs Regarding the Trojena Desert Ski Project

The state of affairs regarding the Trojena desert ski project is one that seems to be in rocky patches regarding its implementation. It is likely like solutions like moving the games to another country may eventually need to be considered. However, it is plausible that Saudi Arabia may push to meet its commitments to host the tournament. Among concerns being raised on the project is the challenge of pumping enough water up a mountain for a planned lake at Trojena. Furthermore the creation of artificial snow and the difficulties of constructing at high altitudes in the area with complex topography.

Despite this, NEOM has noted that the project, including Trojena, is progressing according to a phased plan. They also noted that despite rumors, the project is progressing well and is still on track. Organizers of the Asian Winter Games are closely tracking progress at Trojena. Though contingencies are being considered, an individual close to the project has noted that it is too soon for that as reported by Bloomberg.