Saudi Arabia’s plans to build a futuristic mountain ski resort in the desert are facing uncertainty – reportedly forcing the country to consider relocating the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
The Games had been expected to take place in Trojena, in the Kingdom’s planned megacity of NEOM.
It was meant to feature 30km of ski runs and artificial snow, pumped from the Gulf of Aqaba, 200km away.
However, the project has grappled with construction difficulties, meaning the resort may not be completed in time, the FT reports.
Reportedly, Saudi Arabia and the Olympic Council of Asia have begun informal talks with other countries to potentially take over the 2029 Games.
South Korea and China are reportedly being considered as alternative hosts.
A source familiar with the project told the Telegraph: ‘The difficulties have been magnified by the schedule imposed on the project.’
Another said: ‘The Saudis are really committed to building something there.
‘Maybe not on the scale that they have imagined in the first place.’
Trojena was dubbed ‘the new global destination for mountain tourism’ in 2022.
It was projected to include an all-year ski village, a man-made freshwater lake, a hotel, mansions with panoramic views and the Vault – a vertical village within the mountain.
The NEOM plan has been dogged by accusations of human rights abuses and brutal conditions for workers.
The Sun reported in 2024 that more than 21,000 workers had died in the eight years since Saudi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched his Saudi Vision 2030 project.
Human Rights Watch researcher Joey Shea previously told the Sun: ‘Unfortunately migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continue to face widespread abuses, some of which may amount to situations of forced labour, including at high profile gigaprojects.
‘On NEOM, Human Rights Watch has found that ambitious targets set by Saudi authorities have tight and unrealistic deadlines which can lead employers to demand that workers continue to work under dangerous conditions.
‘Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia experience illegal and exorbitant Recruitment Fees, limits to job mobility, obstacles exiting the country, as well as serious health and safety risks.”
One NEOM worker previously told The Sun that the project’s management had ‘overspent quite a bit’ since its announcement.
He said: ‘They were focusing on way too many things at the same time.
‘They just wanted everything at the highest level possible. The biggest entertainment complex in the world. The biggest media studio in the region.
‘No matter how much money you throw at the thing, it takes more than just money to make it work.’
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