NEOM’s Trojena Ski Resort Rises in the Desert Mountains of Tabuk, KSA

Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia – August 21, 2025 - NEOM’s Trojena is emerging as one of the most futuristic and ambitious mountain tourism destinations globally. Poised for completion by 2026, the resort brings the extraordinary concept of a desert ski destination to life, blending vertical architecture, luxury hospitality, and sustainable innovation.

A Visionary Mountain Escape

Located in the Sarat Mountains, Trojena rises from 1,500 to 2,600 metres above sea level, offering a uniquely cooler climate within the desert and becoming a centerpiece of Saudi Vision 2030. Expected to accommodate 700,000 visitors and 7,000 permanent residents by 2030, Trojena aims to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s tourism growth.

Master planned by LAVA and architecturally elevated by a consortium including Aedas, Trojena introduces the world’s first “vertical ski village, an integrated mega-structure that mimics the surrounding terrain and supports 30 kilometres of ski slopes and a 2.8-kilometre man-made freshwater lake.

“Our foremost consideration was to create a structure that would blend with the terrain. It has a monumental scale that reads as topography and feels as if it is born from the ground. With the passage of time, the building will age and acquire a patina. We imagine a future when it will become part of the mountain, completely camouflaged by snow.” explained the design principal, Ignacio Gomez of Aedas.

Read more: The Line at NEOM: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Six Distinct Clusters of Experience

Trojena features six experiential clusters, Discover, Gateway, Valley, Explore, Relax, and Fun, each offering tailored activities ranging from alpine sports and water wellness to wildlife exploration.

The Gateway Cluster, led by The Vault, will serve as a vertical village hosting hotels, retail, and cultural venues. The Discover Cluster includes a mountain observatory and open-air museum, while other zones offer everything from adrenaline-filled adventure to serene relaxation.

World-Class Facilities and Environmental Challenges

By 2026, Trojena is expected to host outdoor skiing on both real and synthetic snow, alongside luxury hotels including brands like Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Raffles, and Anantara, plus apartments, mansions, and wellness resorts. However, meeting environmental and engineering demands remains a challenge. Snowfall is minimal, so Trojena will rely on artificial snow, powered by desalinated water pumped uphill, a complex, energy-intensive process.

Hosting the 2029 Asian Winter Games

Trojena is set to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, marking the first-ever winter sports event in Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. The project’s ability to meet this deadline is under scrutiny due to logistical and environmental constraints.