Saudi Arabia Postpones 2029 Asian Winter Games in NEOM

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.