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Jeddah: Surrounded by mountain peaks overlooking NEOM, a new smart city shaped in northwestern Saudi Arabia, the world’s first futuristic and sustainable ski resort promises to transform the kingdom into a major regional tourist destination. ..

Last month, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans for Trohena, the first outdoor ski resort in the Gulf region, which, unlike the European Alps, can reach almost 40% of the world’s population within four hours.

Hosting sporting events, art exhibitions, concerts and cultural festivals, the site is expected to attract 700,000 visitors and 7,000 permanent residents by 2030. The project is expected to be completed by 2026, according to planners.

Surrounded by the pristine range of the Sarawat Mountains and reaching 2,400 meters above sea level, Trogena offers ski villages, ultra-luxury families, wellness resorts, the region’s largest freshwater lakes, interactive nature reserves, and a variety of dining and retail options.

Trojena’s vision is to integrate nature and technology to meet the interests and needs of modern travelers. “This provides a seamless travel experience that eliminates the problems of traditional travel,” Trojena Executive Director Philip Gullett told Arab News.

“We are considering delivering packages via drones, using biometrics to meet security requirements, and allowing stakeholders to first explore the site using the latest virtual reality. increase.”

A $ 500 billion project fully owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, NEOM is located on the Red Sea coast in the northwestern part of the kingdom. The region’s diverse and dramatic terrain makes it an ideal location for outdoor adventure tourism.

Visitors can quickly enjoy a wide range of activities on the same day, from scuba diving and skiing to hiking and mountaineering, thanks to The Line’s high-speed mass transit network.

Trojena is made up of six different districts, all centered around a customized experience. The wellness season will be held from September to November, with plans focused on yoga retreats, art Residencies, entertainment Residencies, and overall health.

Located just 50km east of the Red Sea coastline, Trogena averages 10 degrees Celsius lower than the rest of the world, providing a warm climate for outdoor sports throughout the year.

From December to March, there are various winter events such as sports, film festivals, concerts and even Fashion Week.

Then, from March to May, Trogena will offer an adventure season with triathlons, paragliders, mountain biking and more, followed by a lake season with a focus on water sports.

Following the initiative of NEOM, Trojena will be fully powered by renewable energy sources and utilize sustainable materials. “This includes implementing a lifetime decarbonization goal,” Garrett said.

“These strategies focus on heating and cooling systems, insulation and building materials, performance-based building energy codes that address operational and embodied carbon, and measures to enhance building resilience.

“One of the highlights of the energy grid is the hydropower system built into the lake system, which is also used as an energy storage to offset the energy needed for development.”

Planners say they have taken a sustainable approach to the construction of the site in order to adhere to NEOM’s strict environmental principles and protect the cultural heritage of the region.

“NEOM is keenly aware of the need to protect the area, which is why sustainability is central to this project from the beginning,” Garrett said.

“The Master Plan was created with particular consideration for the natural terrain and the important and sensitive environment it contains.

“We place our assets and support infrastructure in a lightweight and decentralized program to specifically protect the natural features of the region. This is a future where human development and the environment are more sustainable. This is an opportunity to show how we can coexist as part.

“The preservation of NEOM’s authentic culture and heritage is supported by technology integration. Sites such as The Vault are partially underground, reducing their reliance on heating and cooling energy systems.

“Naturally stable underground temperatures act to passively mitigate microclimates and help reduce the need to destroy the natural landscape.”

In fact, NEOM is actively promoting the use of recycled amenities, zero waste practices, and local sourcing of products to reduce the project’s carbon dioxide emissions.

In addition to environmental sustainability, the Saudi Vision 2030 Reform Agenda makes national health and general welfare a top priority, providing more outdoor and green spaces, sports facilities and nutritious food. I made a plan for the store.

In fact, one of NEOM’s key performance indicators is to allow 70% of residents to practice sports for at least 150 minutes a week.

“Trohena’s Relaxing Clusters provide a place to heal your mind and body, accommodating an outdoor wellness and personal enhancement center with innovative technology, as well as a medical spa with high-tech facilities and customized treatments. “Garret said.

“We provide world-class treatments for personal health and wellness from leading physicians and therapists around the world.”

One of Trojena’s main attractions is the world-class observatory. Thanks to the clear skies and highlands, this site offers stunning views of the night sky and houses super telescopes, integrated educational technology, observatory pods and NEOM space parks.

“We want these assets to become world-famous in the starry sky observation community,” says Gullet.

“The region has a long history of space and the space industry is developing. It will be exciting for the next few years.”