Trojena: What We Know About the Spectacular New Mountain Destination in Saudi Arabia

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Updated October 2022

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is set to develop a unique year-round mountain-centric destination named TROJENA in the Kingdom by the year 2026. The development of this new global destination for mountain tourism was first announced by the Saudi Crown Prince and Chairman of NEOM (a future planned city to be built in the Tabuk province of northwestern Saudi Arabia), Mohammed bin Salman on 3 March 2022.

Keep reading to know more about this unique year-round mountain centric destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

What is KSA’s new attraction Trojena?

An initiative to develop the tourism sector in the region, NEOM (New Enterprise Operating Model) has planned to create TROJENA as the first major outdoor skiing destination that will offer year-round outdoor skiing and mesmerizing adventure sports including water sports, hiking mountain biking and more. This key factor will provide a unique experience and is something that will be witnessed for the first time in the Gulf countries known for their desert climates.

TROJENA, as stated by NEOM, will be completed by 2026, and will be located 50 kilometres from the Gulf of Aqaba coast with elevations ranging from 1,500 metres to 2,600 metres and covering an area of nearly 60 square kilometres.

Inside the new attraction

Providing an unrivalled experience and a global landmark for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and with its clean, fresh air and stunning views, TROJENA will be not only a mesmerizing place to visit but also a magical place to live and work. The development is going to be the first major outdoor skiing destination that will offer year-round outdoor skiing and adventure sports like water sports, hiking and mountain biking.

Some other highlights include a gorgeous man-made freshwater lake, The Bow Hotel and The Vault, a vertical village fusing technology, entertainment and hospitality within the mountain. Furthermore, the year-round skiing destination, TROJENA, on completion will also include a broad range of apartments, chalets, mansions, ultra-luxury and experiential hotels, wellness and family resorts.

Additionally, there will be a wide range of retail, leisure and dining options. Therefore, the unique destination will provide extraordinary opportunities for residents and visitors looking for luxury, adventure, entertainment, livability and escape from the everyday.

Goals of this development

As exclaimed by the Saudi Crown Prince and Chairman of NEOM, Mohammed bin Salman, TROJENA is a development that will redefine mountain tourism for the world by creating a place based on the principles of ecotourism, highlighting our efforts to preserve nature and enhance the community’s quality of life, aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Saudi has recently submitted an official bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in the Trojena sports city. If the bid is successful, it would be the first country in the Middle East to host the games. Over 32 Asian countries are expected to participate in the games while competing in events like ice hockey, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, biathlon and figure skating.

Set to be completed by 2026, around 7,000 people are expected to settle in Trojena and its adjacent residential districts, hoping to attract at least 700,000 visitors by 2030. Hence, as assured by the Crown Prince himself, the forward-looking vision will ensure mountain tourism as another revenue stream to support the Kingdom’s economic diversification while preserving its natural resources for future generations.

Trojena latest updates

NEOM signed with Ennismore, the world’s fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, corresponding with NEOM’s Hotel Development’s main goal of establishing global partnerships. The inaugural tie-up will see two of Ennismore’s iconic brands – 25 hours Hotels and Morgans Originals open properties in Trojena.

Early construction works have already commenced in Trojena, with the main construction work on the ski village due to begin at the end of 2022.

*All images courtesy of NEOM