Snowmaking in Saudi Arabia As Ski Resort Construction Gathers Pace

Test snowmaking has taken place at Saudi Arabia’s new Trojena ski resort as the development continues to take shape.

The successfully manufactured snow, believed to be the most ever seen outdoors in Saudi Arabia, shows that although it gets little natural snowfall, Trojena’s high-altitude location and the dry desert  atmosphere do permit conventional snowmaking at times.

Trojena is being built at a location 50 kilometres from the Gulf of Aqaba coast, in a region characterized by a mountain range with the highest peaks in Saudi Arabia at approximately 2,600 metres above sea level.

Temperatures in the region are reported to be 10 degrees lower than the Saudi Arabia average which range from +10 to +45C (+50 to +110F), so get close to freezing at times, particularly overnight in winter.

Trojena is part of Saudi Arabia’s even more ambitious Neom mega-city project.  It will offer year-round outdoor skiing on over 30km of slopes. It’s believed this will be achieved through a combination of artificial surface slopes (possibly the most extensive the world has yet seen), all-weather snowmaking machines and, when conditions are right in winter, conventional snowmaking equipment.

First announced in 2022, an opening date of 2026 was the target and the resort was also selected to host the 10th Asian Winter Games in 2029 despite construction not having begun at that point. 

It is unclear if the 2026 date will be reached but construction does appear to currently be progressing at pace with the world’s largest crane has been involved in building the massive steel structure at the heart of the resort.  This superstructure will rise vertically across 32 levels, with ski runs descending over and from it and will span twice the height of the world’s tallest building when measured horizontally.

A press release for the project states, “Outdoor skiing is a unique feature of Trojena that will provide a unique experience never before witnessed in the region, especially in Gulf countries known for their desert climates. Amateurs and professionals alike will be able to enjoy the many ski runs of various difficulties with an array of contrasting and breath-taking views. The blue waters of the Red Sea, beauty of the Neom mountain ranges and the golden desert sand dunes will provide skiers a first-of-its-kind experience that combines these diverse environments with fun-filled and adventurous moments.”

Trojena expects to attract 700,000 visitors and 7,000 permanent residents by 2030. The development will also include the ‘Slope Residences,’ which will be located near the ski slope overlooking the lake, designed to blend in with the surrounding landscape, as well as luxurious mansions with panoramic views designed to reflect the beauty of the environment.

“Trojena aims to change current perceptions of visitors and residents about the services that can be provided by mountain resorts, through its exceptional design, advanced architecture and technology that integrates reality with the virtual world,” the press release continues.