Saudi Arabia's Ambitious Desert Ski Resort Project Faces Major Setback
The planned winter resort of Trojena in northwestern Saudi Arabia has been significantly scaled back, marking a dramatic revision of a project that was once a cornerstone of the nation's futuristic tourism vision.
Originally conceived as a year-round mountain destination, the resort was set to feature ski slopes, a dedicated ski village, a man-made lake, luxury hotels, and retail spaces. A key highlight was its role as the host of the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
However, those plans have now been abandoned. The 2029 Asian Winter Games will instead be held in Kazakhstan.
The core issue lies in viability. The resort's reliance on artificial snow and other energy-intensive features has been deemed no longer sustainable. While the area in northwestern Saudi Arabia does experience natural snowfall, it does not persist year-round.
The concept of a fully artificial mountain resort has been revised. The project's original premise of creating a perpetual winter environment in a desert climate has been officially reconsidered, leading to the downsizing of its ambitions.
The dream of a year-round, man-made winter paradise in the Saudi desert has been replaced by a more modest reality.