Saudi Arabia unveails plan first all-year-round ski resort

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans for the country’s first all-year-round ski resort, a futuristic, opulent mega-project buried in the desert kingdom’s highlands that will be 33 times the size of New York City.

TROJENA will be part of NEOM, a $500 billion city-state with its own village, spa resorts, and “interactive natural reserve.”

The NEOM project, which is a mix of the Greek word “neo” for new and the Arabic word “mustaqbal,” or “future,” will cover 10,000 square miles in the Saudi province of Tabuk in the country’s northwest.

According to Middle East Eye, the idea includes the creation of a gigantic man-made freshwater lake as well as the Vault, a “vertical village within the mountain.”

NEOM is located in one of the country’s most hilly locations. The highest point in the area is 8,530 feet.

There are also plans to construct “Slope Residences,” which will be opulent residences with views of the man-made lake and its surrounds.

By 2030, the project is planned to attract approximately 700,000 visitors and 7,000 permanent residents. It is expected to be finished in 2026.

The Saudi government anticipates that the project will create 10,000 jobs and $800 million in revenue.

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This is TROJENA – a new world of possibilities, with one-of-a-kind experiences, stunning natural beauty, architectural excellence and premium lakeside living – in The Mountains of NEOM.#TROJENA #NEOM pic.twitter.com/hgf1iijZmA

— NEOM (@NEOM) March 3, 2022

The NEOM website said the man-made village will include “bespoke experiences where reality and imagination are combined.”

“TROJENA 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,” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a statement.

“[It] 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.”