saudi arabia to host 2029 asian winter games in megacity that doesn't exist

Saudi Arabia wins the bid to host Asian Winter Games in 2029

On October 4, 2022, Saudi Arabia won the bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in an area called Trojena which doesn’t even exist yet. Similar to THE LINE, Trojena is part of the NEOM gigacity being built in Tabuk province in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the $500 billion desert city will include year-round skiing, a man-made freshwater lake, chalets, villas, and ultra-luxury hotels, and is expected to host 700,000 annual visitors and be home to as many as 7,000 residents by 2030.

You can find out more about how the megacity will operate, and what life inside THE LINE will look like, in designboom’s exclusive interview with NEOM’s director of urban planning Tarek Qaddumi, here.

highlights of Trojena include a large man-made freshwater lake | all images courtesy of NEOM

a great victory for the Saudi nation

Saudi Arabia will be the first West Asian country to host the Asian Winter Games, which were launched in 1986 and have previously been hosted four times by Japan, twice by China, and once each by South Korea and Kazakhstan. As mentioned above, the Games will be held in Trojena, which, according to NEOM’s official website, covers an area of almost 60 square kilometers and is located 50 km from the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba in the heart of the megacity’s natural region.

‘This is a great victory for the Saudi nation and the people of the Gulf countries due to the generous support offered to the Saudi sports sector.’ shares HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. ‘This achievement also shed light on the enormous potential and the outstanding infrastructure of Saudi Arabia to host and organize international-level sports competitions and Games successfully.’

the $500 billion desert city will include year-round skiing, chalets, villas, and ultra-luxury hotels

a destination like no other on earth

According to NEOM, Trojena is characterized by a particular climate, where temperatures in winter fall below zero degrees Celsius, and temperatures throughout the year are generally 10 degrees cooler than in the surrounding area. Upon completion, the property will include a wide range of residences, including apartments, chalets, and mansions, as well as hotels that range from health and family resorts to ultra-luxury experiences. There will also be a variety of retail, entertainment, and food opportunities. Meanwhile, an interactive nature reserve will coexist side by side with year-round skiing, water activities, hiking, and mountain biking.

Following the principles of sustainability, state-of-the-art technology, and digitized design, Trojena will generate ‘a destination like no other on Earth’ offering limitless opportunities for residents and visitors looking for luxury, adventure, entertainment, and escape from the everyday. ‘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.’ says HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of the NEOM Company Board of Directors. ‘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.’

an interactive nature reserve will coexist side by side with year-round skiing, and water activities