Trojena is part of the Neom project, a new special region developed in Saudi Arabia. The area is destined to become a ski resort for tourists and nationals. Trojena will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
In order to prepare for the post-oil era and establish itself as a leading tourist destination, Saudi Arabia is multiplying projects, each more grandiose than the last. There is The Line, the project for a vertical city built almost 200 km long; Sindallah, an island transformed into a luxury hotel for yacht owners; Oxagon, a floating city and industrial center; Leyja, a luxury resort set in the center of a desert gorge.
And there is Trojena, another improbable project and one of the most controversial, because it involves building a ski resort. Trojena is to be a future town where typical mountain tourism activities can take place, from climbing to hiking to skiing. The pharaonic project must nevertheless host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
What is Trojena, “the mountains of Neom”, exactly?
Trojena is an urban project which must include several different spaces, as well as an artificial lake. The site chosen for the establishment is located in a mountainous region, in the northwest of the country, 50 km from the sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The highest peaks reach 2,400 meters, and it is an area with a naturally more temperate climate than the rest of the region, according to Neom.
A ski village, ski slopes, and a “ hidden under the lake »
The different spaces planned in Trojena are:
- The Vault, a V-shaped vertical futuristic village », which is reminiscent of The Line in certain aspects. The village must “ be the gateway » to the rest of Trojena, and will offer “ personalized experiences that combine reality and imagination “. He must also benefit from his “ own microclimate » (we do not know if it will be controlled or if it will be natural), and “ abundant vegetation and bodies of water “.
- An observatory, located in the heights of the region.
- An animal reserve, with “ high-end resorts » promising “ augmented reality elements “.
- Of the ” ultra luxury villas » — Trojena and the majority of Neom projects are primarily intended for the richest.
- A ski village, located at an altitude of 2400 m, with several “ outdoor mountain trails ” And ” many other adventure sports “. In total, 30 km of ski slopes have been announced.
- A huge artificial lake, with “ water sports and outdoor entertainment “.
- The Bow. This last space is the most mysterious, because the least clear, and also the most absurd. According to the site, it is a “ secret world under the lake, which includes large spaces that can be set up for conferences, concerts, sports » and even weddings. The space will also include a 5-star hotel, residences and restaurants. They will be “ all featuring advanced technology and located in the atriums of this water-immersed structure “. We’re not sure what the place is actually supposed to be, but, like every element of Trojena, the project looks over-the-top and far-fetched.
What is the connection between Trojena, Neom and The Line?
Trojen is part of Neom, a special economic region chosen by Riyadh. In addition to Trojena, the area will host several futuristic city projects, such as Line, Sindallah, Oxagon, and Leyja.
A ski resort in Saudi Arabia: is there snow?
If we remember one thing about Trojena, it’s its ski resort. A question then arises: will there be snow? Saudi Arabia assures that there will be some, even on open-air tracks. To prove that there is indeed natural snow in the region, Neom even published a short video where we can see shrubs covered in snow.
What is not said is that such a thin snow depth is not enough for skiing, and even less for organizing sports competitions. Although it has never been confirmed, snow cannons will certainly be necessary for the events to take place.
In addition, Trojena announces on its site that “ activities such as skiing » will be possible « all year » — which involves the creation of artificial indoor tracks. Another ecological outlier.
Upcoming projects in Trojena
The Asian Winter Games in 2029 are to be held in Trojena. The decision, announced in the fall of 2022, triggered a heated controversy in the media, while climate change is increasingly inevitable. However, the competitions were not canceled.
Where is the work progressing?
Like all other Neom projects, Trojena is currently being built. The latest images of the progress of the work were published in October on Neom’s YouTube channel, and we can notably see the foundations of The Line being dug.
As for Trojena, only one photo of the work is visible. We can see several construction machines at work in the mountains.
When should the work be finished?
According to Trojena’s official website, the work must be finished in 2026. The city must be able to welcome the first tourists from then on, although the announced dates seem to be too optimistic, given the progress of the work.
In any case, the ski resort will have to be at least ready for 2029, when it will host the Asian Winter Games.
Who is building the Neom and Trojena project?
Neom used many partner companies to build Trojena. Numerous architectural firms were commissioned, such as the German office Lava Architecture (one of whose first projects was indoor ski slopes in Abu Dhabi), in charge of The Vault; bureau^proberts, based in Australia, which takes care of the lake; and the English firm Aedas, responsible for designing the ski village.
In addition to the architectural firms helping with the progress of the work, other companies are on site. The French hotel group Accor has several hotel and residence projects in the resort.
Where is Trojena located?
Trojena is located inland, about fifty kilometers from the coast, in the Midian mountain range.
Where is Neom located?
Neom is located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, in a region bordered by the Red Sea to the south and the Gulf of Aqaba to the west.
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