Saudi Arabia makes it snow with $500b mountain tourism destination

Not content to simply stop at building ‘the most beautiful building on earth’ and the world’s first theme park on an oil rig, the Middle East is back pushing boundaries with their latest ambitious tourism project — a mountain destination where nature, innovative technologies and luxury travel collide.

Enter Trojena. Set for completion in 2026, a mere four years after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans for the new global destination for mountain tourism on 3 March 2022. The short timeline allocated to the massive project has raised some eyebrows among architects, especially when you consider the multitude of ambitious developments under the US$500 billion initiative.

Upon completion, the development will include a broad range of permanent and temporary accommodations with a wide range of retail, leisure and dining options. Photo Credit: Neom

The futuristic ski megacity that will break ground in Neom, Saudi Arabia, is touted to encompass an area of nearly 60 square kilometres with elevations ranging between 1,500m and 2,600m. Touristic offerings include a wildlife reserve; a man-made lake; a hidden world of entertainment under the lake; luxury mansions; an observatory; a ski village; a folded-vertical village; various luxury accommodations spanning over 3,600 hotel rooms and apartments; and wellness treatments.

Outdoor skiing will be Trojena’s key draw, promised to provide a unique experience never before witnessed in the region, especially in Gulf countries known for their desert climates. By day, the high-altitude ski village includes outdoor runs down the mountain alongside other adventure sports. But as night falls, the village will be transformed into a centre for outdoor entertainment, events, dining, stargazing and other luxury experiences can be enjoyed at its five-star hotel.

“The Vault is one of our unique offerings. Its incredible design supports some of NEOM’s important principles like sustainability, preservation of land and getting away from the normal approach to building cities on a grid that spreads out far and wide,” says Trojena’s Philip Gullet. Photo Credit: Neom

Another distinct feature is Trojena’s folded vertical village, labelled The Vault, that concentrates “that vertical village or city in one place, minimising the land take — and maximising walkability — rather than spreading all those elements out across a large space,” according to Philip Gullet, executive director or Trojena. This futuristic village will take on a structure similar to that of a hard-shell taco, and offer “bespoke experiences where reality and imagination are combined”.

Luxury mansions tailored to each owner’s needs will overlook the man-made lake and provide panoramic views of the mountain scape. Photo Credit: Neom

The project will also feature a man-made freshwater lake that allows for events, family activities, walks and water sports to be hosted at. Secluded in a valley underneath that lake will be a large space meant for hosting conferences, concerts, sports, entertainment, exhibitions, events, music festivals and more. The secret event space will also house a five-star hotel, high-end residences and dining options.

Trojena expects to attract 700,000 visitors and 7,000 permanent residents to live within the resort or its adjacent residential districts, and projected to create over 10,000 jobs and add US$800m to Saudi Arabia’s GDP by 2030. 

“Trojena will be an important addition to tourism in the region, a unique example of how Saudi Arabia is creating destinations based on its geographical and environmental diversity,” said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “This forward-looking vision will ensure that mountain tourism will be another revenue stream to support the Kingdom's economic diversification while still preserving its natural resources for future generations."