Trojena at Neom project management contract awarded to Bechtel

Ambitious Saudi development is set to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games

Trojena will open in 2026 as part of Saudi Arabia's megacity of the future. Photo: Neom

Trojena is designed to attract visitors, holidaymakers and winter sports enthusiasts from around the world. PA

The design plan for Trojena, an area in Saudi Arabia's planned megacity of Neom chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. AFP

The Line is also being built at Neom. It will be free of cars and streets and have zero carbon emissions. Photo: Neom

Neom chief executive Nadhmi Al Nasr said The Line would make use of artificial intelligence technology to the fullest. Photo: Neom

Neom city will be powered by clean energy, officials say. Photo: Neom

Trojena in Neom will host the first outdoor snow skiing destination in the GCC region. Photo: Neom

Neom lies in a desert bordering the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Architects say Neom will be designed to make the most of its environmental surroundings. Photo: Neom

Andrew McEvoy, sector head for tourism at Neom, at Arabian Travel Market held at Dubai World Trade Centre. Pawan Singh / The National

The $500bn Neom project in the Tabuk Province of north-western Saudi Arabia is supported by the kingdom's Public Investment Fund. Photo: Saudi Commission for Tourism and Natural Heritage

Bechtel, one of the world's largest industrial contractors, has been appointed as the project management consultant for Trojena at Neom, the mountain development in Saudi Arabia.

It will provide services, including technical, commercial and construction management, at the ambitious project in the north-west of the kingdom.

“Neom is without question the most ambitious project in living memory, and we are proud to expand our role to support the Trojena project,” said Jake Mumm, Bechtel’s regional managing director for Infrastructure.

“From a construction perspective, Neom offers once-in-a-lifetime career opportunities for Saudi nationals, who will be helping to open the world's eyes to the kingdom's outstanding natural beauty, alongside futuristic technology.”

Trojena is regarded as a key development that will contribute to the kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of growing tourism and diversifying its economy away from oil.

It spans more than 1,400 square kilometres, with elevations ranging from 1,500m to 2,600m. A total of 57 square kilometres will be dedicated to the main development, which will benefit from the unique mountain climate in the region, where temperatures drop below zero in winter.

Trojena will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, making it the first nation in western Asia to host the event, with more than 32 countries due to take part.

The project was launched in March by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who called it “a unique example of how Saudi Arabia is creating destinations based on its geographical and environmental diversity”.

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The Line at Neom — in pictures

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Trojena will be the first major outdoor skiing destination in the GCC when it is completed in 2026.

It is part of the $500 billion mega city Neom.

The project's planners have divided Trojena into distinct districts and expect to attract different types of tourists, according to the time of year.

September to November is planned to be wellness season, when yoga retreats, alternative medicine summits and artists' residencies will take place.

December to March is winter season and the perfect time for a host of snow-based sports.

Between March and May, adventure season will attract those interested in outdoor activities — such as high-altitude training, mountain biking, climbing and paragliding.

And the summer months will be lake season, when the area will host food festivals, light shows, art fairs and other cultural events.

“Neom and Trojena continue to attract international firms as collaborators of a new future where people can live, work, and play in harmony with nature,” said Philip Gullett, executive director of Trojena.

“Our vision defies current industry practices and lays the foundation of what sustainable regional and tourist developments can be.”