Saudi Arabia and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have agreed to postpone the 2029 Asian Winter Games, which were scheduled to take place at Trojena, a mountain resort within the NEOM mega‑project, the kingdom’s $500 billion development initiative. The joint statement issued on Saturday did not provide a new date for the games or specify the reason for the delay.
The postponement represents a setback for Saudi Arabia, which has been planning a series of high-profile events over the next decade, including the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the 2030–2031 Riyadh Expo, aimed at accelerating mega-projects and reducing reliance on hydrocarbon revenues. NEOM, which is projected to host nine million residents, and its Trojena resort have already faced repeated delays.
A source at the Saudi Olympic Committee told Reuters that a new date will be negotiated, with the delay intended to allow the kingdom to further develop a culture of winter sports. The announcement comes amid a broader review by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and government of major development projects. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan previously stated that the kingdom is willing to reassess projects to prioritise sectors delivering quicker returns, including tourism, religious pilgrimages, industry, and artificial intelligence.
Trojena, designed to offer year-round skiing and outdoor sports in a region without natural snow, had faced persistent questions over its feasibility. In August 2025, the OCA even approached South Korea about potentially stepping in as host for the games.