Snow Delay in Saudi 2029: The 2029 Winter Games Postponed and What’s Next
25 January 2026
Saudi 2029 Winter Games Postponed: Snowy Plans Delayed
The Saudi Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia have agreed to postpone the 2029 Winter Asian Games to an indefinite date, originally scheduled to take place at a mountain resort as part of the NEOM city project in Saudi Arabia.
The two bodies said they had agreed on an updated hosting framework for the Games, noting that the event would be postponed to a later date to be announced in due course, without giving a direct reason for the decision, which invites questions.
Saudi Arabia will host a series of independent winter events in the coming years, according to the statement, which adds that the decision came after wide consultations between the two bodies and reflects a shared strategic commitment to long-term, sustainable development of winter sports in Saudi Arabia and the West Asia region.
The games were slated to be held in Trojena, a year-round ski resort planned in NEOM's mountains.
Public investment spending by the Public Investment Fund, which has assets around $900 billion, is a central pillar of Saudi strategy, but the postponement may signal that ambitious projects are starting to face financial pressures, according to the Associated Press.
Punchline 1: Snow delay: even the forecast filed for a postponement—talk about a frozen commitment.
Punchline 2: In Saudi, the plan moves slower than a camel on vacation; apparently, budgets like to nap too.
