Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion travel expansion
It can be difficult to visualize the vastness of Saudi Arabia’s physical transformation. Some of the most notable ongoing projects - including Sindalah, a 7-star private island, and Trojena, an improbable desert ski resort, fall within NEOM, a $500-billion built-from-scratch region in northwest Saudi Arabia where the Kingdom is creating new cities, resorts and other developments. Bankrolled mainly by the Kingdom’s $700-billion Public Investment Fund (PIF), the idea for NEOM was born out of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s grand plan to shake off its historic reliance on oil and diversify its economy, reinventing the country as a global tourism hotspot.
In this article, I will be explaining each gargantuan megaproject Saudi Arabia is pouring money into.
First of all, let’s explore the vast stretch of land on which all this infrastructure is being built: NEOM. NEOM is expected to be fully constructed a few years prior to 2080. It is being portrayed as a futuristic, luxurious area carried by glee and glamour. This city has been divided into 4 distinct main regions, namely Oxagon, The Line, Trojena, and Sindalah. Each of these four regions is diverse in its own way, and they are expected to completely blow Saudi Arabia’s tourism market out of the water.
These projects will also help it attain recognition alongside other Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. These renowned countries feature some of the most futuristic technology, the most luxurious residences, the most glamorous skylines, and most importantly, some of the largest tourism markets in the whole world. This is exactly the reason why it is so taxing to be neighbours with some of these nations.
Now, a detailed paragraph on each of these upcoming tourist hotspots:
Firstly, we have Oxagon. Oxagon is an emerging, octagonal floating industrial city located in the southwest corner of Saudi Arabia's NEOM development. Anchored by an operational port on the Red Sea, it spans a 48-square-kilometer core and aims to operate entirely on renewable energy. The city focuses on advanced manufacturing, clean technology, and AI-powered logistics. This project’s ultimate focus is to slash mineral oil / fossil fuel usage, and create a more sustainable environment for all.
The Oxagon industrial and port development is scheduled for completion in phases through December 2030. The first integrated residential areas (Oxagon Village) and expanded container terminals will start opening in 2027, while core projects like the NEOM Green Hydrogen Plant are targeting production in 2027.
Next, we have The Line. The Line is a massive, futuristic zero-carbon smart city under construction in Saudi Arabia. The linear metropolis aims to stretch 170 km across the desert without cars or traditional roads. The design features mirrored glass facades housing up to 9 million residents in stacked, walkable modules.
Following initial excavation and groundwork, the project is under strategic review due to scaling costs and logistical complexities. Saudi officials have adjusted early 2030 deadlines, with phased development focusing on making smaller, more realistic anchor points first.
After that is Trojena. Trojena is a massive year-round mountain and ski resort being developed in the Sarowat Mountains of northwest Saudi Arabia. It will feature the first outdoor ski destination in the Gulf region.
Unfortunately, the resort is no longer on track for its original 2026 completion date, with no confirmed revised opening date as the masterplan is being heavily recalibrated.
Finally, comes Sindalah. Sindalah is an exclusive, 84-hectare luxury island destination approximately 5 kilometres off the coast of Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk province. It is populated with luxury hotels and aims to serve as the “relaxed” part of the NEOM project.
