Everything About NEOM's Trojena Ski Resort

Things are going so fast it's hard to keep up!

Trojena, the first winter resort of Saudi Arabia, will be completed and ready to open in 2027, before the 2029 Asian Winter Games. This makes it the second NEOM mega project to be launched.

“We have the Asian Winter Games in 2029 but it will be done before that. Our one-phase development will have it done by 2027,” Clark Williams, marketing and communications director of Trojena, told AGBI magazine this week in Cannes. 

Aedas, who won the commission for the development of the “first vertical ski slope”, topped their winning medals this week also, with Ignacio Gomez and John Gillen winning an award as the most influential architect in the Middle East, according to Design Middle East magazine.

Set to be the GCC’s first-ever outdoor ski and snowboard resort (yes, Dubai’s indoor slope doesn’t count), the quite breathtaking project appears to be moving at a record pace according to new images from the developers and engineers on site.

Webuild, an Italian construction giant, recently secured a $4.7 billion contract to spearhead  the site and lake the contract covers the development of a unique hotel and residential space known as the Bow and an iconic entrance dubbed the Vault, both designed by the German studio Lava and to be constructed by Webuild.

Is Trojena cold enough?

Yes it is confusing to those not familiar with the area, but Saudi Arabia does have some cold spots despite being so close to the equator. Positioned between 1,500 to 2,600 meters above sea level, Trojena's climate is relatively cold during the winter months, albeit insufficient for enough snowfall adequate for a winter sports resort. To address this shortfall of the white stuff, snow cannons will be employed and other modern winter tech will be used to enable the creation of the ski slopes.

According to Williams, temperature studies confirm the site's suitability for snow production, with certain technologies allowing for snowmaking irrespective of temperature conditions.

This innovation means that 12km out of a total 36km of ski slopes will remain operational even in summer!

As we announced earlier in the week, hotel chain Raffles has been given the key to operating the hotel at Trojena, which is expected to cost $500bn.

Trojena is part of NEOM’s regional plan, located 50km from the Gulf of Aqaba coast in the heart of our nature region. Elevations range from 1,500m to 2,600m and cover an area of nearly 60 square kilometers.

This video recorded on March 18 by the team shows the elevation of the Trojena development site with heavy rain.

Trojena Lake

WeBuild also has the contract to build a 2.8-kilometer-long lake called quite dubbed by some as “Lake Trojena”, according to the information provided by the developers. It will become the largest freshwater lake in the entire Middle East (we do not include Turkey here) that will offer exciting year-round activities, including water skiing and jet boats; there will also be a new water village built along the edges of the lake.

Keeping in line with the health theme, the lake's southern end comes to a sharp edge with pedestrian pathways around for walking and jogging. One overriding feature of all these developments is the removal of the car. It is a brave decision, as the kingdom has become quite addicted to the motor car over the past few years, and this push away from private vehicle access to locations looks set to be a cultural shift.

Hotels in Trojena - The Full List

Raffles in Trojena

Dubbed Raffles Trojena, the striking 105-room resort is slated to open in 2027, nestled in Trojena's stunning 2,600m high mountain ranges just 50km inland from the Gulf of Aqaba coast. Featuring a showpiece man-made lake as its centrepiece, this development marks Raffles' grandest mountain resort foray yet.

On the hospitality side, Raffles Hotels & Resorts CEO Amir Akar promised "the best in modern luxury" befitting the iconic brand's pedigree. "Trojena will be an ideal destination and enhance Raffles' legacy in the world's most attractive locales," he stated.

Renderings depict a breathtaking contemporary design blending seamlessly into the rugged peaks, valleys and that dazzling artificial lake. Guests can look forward to Raffles' signature pampering and world-class skiing literally at their doorstep.

“Trojena is set to redefine the understanding of luxury hospitality and mountain tourism,” said Philip Gullett, Executive Director, and Trojena Region Head. “We are thrilled to work with Raffles to bring this unique resort to life, sharing a resolve to provide discerning guests with a one-of-a-kind experience that encourages discovery.”

25hours Hotels Trojena

Ennismore Hotels is expanding its presence into Neom with the introduction of 25hours Trojena.

The new establishment in Trojena promises to bring a host of desirable features, such as a cinema, a sustainable dining concept focusing on farm-to-table cuisine, a bicycle repair shop, a shared workspace, and a rooftop dining area complete with a swimming pool. This is estimated to open in 2026.

Anantara Trojena

Anantara Trojena introduces a luxurious escape with 270 accommodations, including rooms and suites, some featuring private pools and picturesque views of the lake or mountains.

Guests have a wide array of dining experiences to choose from, such as two specialty restaurants, an all-day dining venue showcasing a live kitchen, a café, a high tea lounge, and a rooftop majlis café.

The resort also features the iconic Anantara Spa, complete with gender-specific wet areas, hammams, a gym, and an infinity pool. For entertainment and leisure, there's a star-gazing deck, an outdoor cinema, clubs for kids and teens, and a multifaceted sports and activity pavilion offering camel and horse riding, guided walks, and padel tennis.  Anantara is expect to open its doors in 2026.

JW Marriott Hotel Trojena

Set to emerge in The Bow, a unique aquatic and natural fusion in Trojena, the JW Marriott Hotel promises a luxury haven enveloped by serene waters and dramatic mountain vistas. Engineered to master the aquatic landscape, the hotel will offer 500 lavish rooms and suites, complemented by an impressive suite of amenities.

Morgans Original

Morgans Original is expanding its portfolio with a new opulent establishment in Trojena. This addition from Ennismore Hotels offers a spa and bathhouse spanning 2,000 square meters for peak relaxation alongside engaging art exhibitions.

Also, a rooftop bar will provide guests with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, ensuring a stay filled with unparalleled hospitality and memorable moments.

Chedi Trojena

Yet another development is Chedi TROJENA, it is another luxury hotel and the third confirmed on the site. We don’t have much more information on this one yet! However, like the others they have a penned date for 2026.

W Hotel Trojena

The upcoming W Hotel Trojena is set to have 326 rooms, including luxurious suites, all boasting vistas of the mountain range, the hotels will have living room, wet deck , and lounge according to the developers.

Collective Trojena

Collective Trojena will feature 60 alfresco accommodations, inviting guests to gather around communal campfires and savour inventive dining experiences.

Collective Trojena promises a plethora of year-round outdoor adventures from skiing and snowboarding to mountain biking and paragliding which confirms the earlier comments.

The Vault at Trojena

One aspect of the site is the so-called The Vault, which is set to be set inside the mountain side allowing a tunnel effect to develop. “The Vault will feature media and tech space, a gamified vista, a digital hub as well as an estimated 450 stylish apartments, more than 1,000 luxurious hotel rooms and glamping experiences and 13,000m² of retail and dining space.”