• Trojena will open in 2026 as part of Saudi Arabia's megacity of the future. Photo: Neom
    Trojena will open in 2026 as part of Saudi Arabia's megacity of the future. Photo: Neom
  • Trojena will be an iconic, world-class destination, blending natural and developed landscapes, and offering unique human-centric experiences for residents and visitors alike. The destination will house six distinctive clusters that blend real with virtual architectural and engineering innovations to create a destination like no other. Photo: NEOM
    Trojena will be an iconic, world-class destination, blending natural and developed landscapes, and offering unique human-centric experiences for residents and visitors alike. The destination will house six distinctive clusters that blend real with virtual architectural and engineering innovations to create a destination like no other. Photo: NEOM
  • The design plan for Trojena, an area in Saudi Arabia's planned megacity of Neom chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. AFP
    The design plan for Trojena, an area in Saudi Arabia's planned megacity of Neom chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. AFP
  • The Line is also being built at Neom. It will be free of cars and streets and have zero carbon emissions. Photo: Neom
    The Line is also being built at Neom. It will be free of cars and streets and have zero carbon emissions. Photo: Neom
  • Neom chief executive Nadhmi Al Nasr said The Line would make use of artificial intelligence technology to the fullest. Photo: Neom
    Neom chief executive Nadhmi Al Nasr said The Line would make use of artificial intelligence technology to the fullest. Photo: Neom
  • Neom city will be powered by clean energy, officials say. Photo: Neom
    Neom city will be powered by clean energy, officials say. Photo: Neom
  • Trojena in Neom will host the first outdoor snow skiing destination in the GCC region. Photo: Neom
    Trojena in Neom will host the first outdoor snow skiing destination in the GCC region. Photo: Neom
  • Neom lies in a desert bordering the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Reuters
    Neom lies in a desert bordering the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Reuters
  • Architects say Neom will be designed to make the most of its environmental surroundings. Photo: Neom
    Architects say Neom will be designed to make the most of its environmental surroundings. Photo: Neom
  • Andrew McEvoy, sector head for tourism at Neom, at Arabian Travel Market held at Dubai World Trade Centre. Pawan Singh / The National
    Andrew McEvoy, sector head for tourism at Neom, at Arabian Travel Market held at Dubai World Trade Centre. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The $500bn Neom project in the Tabuk Province of north-western Saudi Arabia is supported by the kingdom's Public Investment Fund. Photo: Saudi Commission for Tourism and Natural Heritage
    The $500bn Neom project in the Tabuk Province of north-western Saudi Arabia is supported by the kingdom's Public Investment Fund. Photo: Saudi Commission for Tourism and Natural Heritage

Trojena at Neom project management contract awarded to Bechtel


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

Bechtel, one of the world's largest industrial contractors, has been appointed as the project management consultant for Trojena at Neom, the mountain development in Saudi Arabia.

It will provide services, including technical, commercial and construction management, at the ambitious project in the north-west of the kingdom.

Neom is without question the most ambitious project in living memory, and we are proud to expand our role to support the Trojena project,” said Jake Mumm, Bechtel’s regional managing director for Infrastructure.

“From a construction perspective, Neom offers once-in-a-lifetime career opportunities for Saudi nationals, who will be helping to open the world's eyes to the kingdom's outstanding natural beauty, alongside futuristic technology.”

Trojena is regarded as a key development that will contribute to the kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of growing tourism and diversifying its economy away from oil.

It spans more than 1,400 square kilometres, with elevations ranging from 1,500m to 2,600m. A total of 57 square kilometres will be dedicated to the main development, which will benefit from the unique mountain climate in the region, where temperatures drop below zero in winter.

Trojena will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, making it the first nation in western Asia to host the event, with more than 32 countries due to take part.

The project was launched in March by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who called it “a unique example of how Saudi Arabia is creating destinations based on its geographical and environmental diversity”.

____________________________________

The Line at Neom — in pictures

  • The Line is one of the 10 districts of Saudi Arabia's megaproject Neom, envisioned as the world's largest city at a site in the north-west of the kingdom. Photo: Neom
    The Line is one of the 10 districts of Saudi Arabia's megaproject Neom, envisioned as the world's largest city at a site in the north-west of the kingdom. Photo: Neom
  • Plans for The Line show a vertical city encased in mirrored walls, which extends from the Red Sea into the desert.
    Plans for The Line show a vertical city encased in mirrored walls, which extends from the Red Sea into the desert.
  • Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said The Line will "embody how urban communities will be in the future". Photo: Spa
    Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said The Line will "embody how urban communities will be in the future". Photo: Spa
  • The plan is for the city to be 170 kilometres long and 500 metres tall. Photo: Neom
    The plan is for the city to be 170 kilometres long and 500 metres tall. Photo: Neom
  • The Line envisions urban living without any cars or roads. Photo: Spa
    The Line envisions urban living without any cars or roads. Photo: Spa
  • “The Line will be the first city in the world to be powered by renewable energy including wind, solar and hydrogen,” Giles Pendleton, executive director of development at The Line in Neom, told 'The National' in August.
    “The Line will be the first city in the world to be powered by renewable energy including wind, solar and hydrogen,” Giles Pendleton, executive director of development at The Line in Neom, told 'The National' in August.
  • A rendering shows man-made waterfalls inside The Line. Photo: Spa
    A rendering shows man-made waterfalls inside The Line. Photo: Spa
  • The aim is to eventually accommodate nine million people. Photo: Spa
    The aim is to eventually accommodate nine million people. Photo: Spa
  • All amenities would be available within a five-minute walk, officials say. Photo: Spa
    All amenities would be available within a five-minute walk, officials say. Photo: Spa
  • A rendering shows boats entering The Line. Photo: Spa
    A rendering shows boats entering The Line. Photo: Spa
  • A port at The Line. Photo: Spa
    A port at The Line. Photo: Spa
  • The lush city will have green spaces and rooftop gardens. Photo: Spa
    The lush city will have green spaces and rooftop gardens. Photo: Spa
  • There will be high-speed rail, with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes. Photo: Spa
    There will be high-speed rail, with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes. Photo: Spa
  • The Line will be built in the north-western region of Saudi Arabia. Photo: Spa
    The Line will be built in the north-western region of Saudi Arabia. Photo: Spa
  • The city aims to run on 100 per cent renewable energy. Photo: Spa
    The city aims to run on 100 per cent renewable energy. Photo: Spa
  • The plan shows that 95 per cent of the land will be preserved for nature. Photo: Spa
    The plan shows that 95 per cent of the land will be preserved for nature. Photo: Spa

____________________________________

Trojena will be the first major outdoor skiing destination in the GCC when it is completed in 2026.

It is part of the $500 billion mega city Neom.

The project's planners have divided Trojena into distinct districts and expect to attract different types of tourists, according to the time of year.

September to November is planned to be wellness season, when yoga retreats, alternative medicine summits and artists' residencies will take place.

December to March is winter season and the perfect time for a host of snow-based sports.

Between March and May, adventure season will attract those interested in outdoor activities — such as high-altitude training, mountain biking, climbing and paragliding.

And the summer months will be lake season, when the area will host food festivals, light shows, art fairs and other cultural events.

“Neom and Trojena continue to attract international firms as collaborators of a new future where people can live, work, and play in harmony with nature,” said Philip Gullett, executive director of Trojena.

“Our vision defies current industry practices and lays the foundation of what sustainable regional and tourist developments can be.”

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

LIVING IN...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Napoleon
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Ridley%20Scott%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Joaquin%20Phoenix%2C%20Vanessa%20Kirby%2C%20Tahar%20Rahim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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UAE squad

Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg

Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Calls

Directed by: Fede Alvarez

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

4/5

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
PRO BASH

Thursday’s fixtures

6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors

10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters

Teams

Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.

Squad rules

All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.

Tournament rules

The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.

The Cockroach

 (Vintage)

Ian McEwan 
 

Klopp at the Kop

Matches 68; Wins 35; Draws 19; Losses 14; Goals For 133; Goals Against 82

  • Eighth place in Premier League in 2015/16
  • Runners-up in Europa League in 2016
  • Runners-up in League Cup in 2016
  • Fourth place in Premier League in 2016/17
New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli

Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000

Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 355hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 4,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.9L / 100km

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Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books

War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10

ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons

Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page

 

Hawks

Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar

Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish

 

Falcons

Coach: Najeeb Amar

Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh

 

 

Updated: December 07, 2022, 5:55 AM