Time and tide wait for none, and that truth is being felt across the megaprojects in Saudi Arabia’s northwest. Launched a couple of years ago, many of NEOM’s marquee schemes remain in the pipeline rather than in full swing. Sindalah, the seahorse-shaped island, opened first, though momentum softened after launch as the destination found its footing. With the clock ticking, attention has swung back to Trojena, the ski village that has been slated to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games since October 2022.
One may imagine the project has frozen in time, progressing at a snail’s pace with every possible issue, from geological to logistical barriers. To keep the schedule alive, NEOM is re-tendering the main construction contract for the Trojena Ski Village. As reported by MEED, the refreshed process follows an addendum issued in January and final offers received in May, and the reissue for the roughly 3.2-billion-dollar package is expected to move ahead within the next couple of months.
What Trojena promises remains bold. The $3.2 billion destination, according to official reports, is planned across six distinct districts, with about 450 slope-side residences and around 1,000 hotel rooms wrapped into a vertical ski village that integrates lifts, terraces, retail, and dining into a compact mountain core. Plans call for ultra-luxury family and wellness resorts, a central lake framed by a Water Village and Lake Village, and year-round alpine and adventure experiences that make the resort more than a winter-only draw.
Trojena was initially targeted for a 2026 debut, a date that now looks optimistic given the scope of work and the re-tender. Strategically, though, its importance has only grown. Trojena is a flagship for Saudi tourism diversification under Vision 2030, a statement project meant to catalyze high-value visitation, new seasons for travel, and a fresh identity for domestic and regional leisure.
As the Crown Prince said at launch, “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, which is aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.” If minor resets spark major gains, the re-tender can still translate ambition into visible progress and turn deadlines into delivery.
