NEOM, Trojena & the Red Sea Coast: Should Pakistanis Book Trips to Saudi's Future Cities Yet?

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The short answer: hold off on NEOM and Trojena for now, but the Red Sea coast is genuinely open for bookings — if your budget can handle it. Saudi's futuristic megaprojects have made headlines for years, yet the reality on the ground in 2026 tells a more nuanced story.

I've been following these projects since they were glossy renders, and after digging through the latest updates, here's my honest take for anyone in Pakistan or the diaspora wondering whether to pack a bag.

What's Actually Open vs. What's Stalled

The Line — the mirrored megacity — has been pushed back past 2030. Construction was officially suspended, and the project is being significantly redesigned to cut costs. Saudi Arabia is scaling back its sci-fi ambitions and pivoting NEOM toward AI data centres and digital infrastructure instead.

Trojena, the $38 billion mountain ski resort, has hit serious delays too. It was originally meant to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and welcome visitors by late 2026, but key construction packages were terminated in 2026 and the timeline is now uncertain. As of today, there's nothing for tourists to visit there.

Sindalah Island, NEOM's first luxury island, opened in October 2024 — but with an asterisk. It's primarily a superyacht destination with an 86-berth marina, and the major hotels (like Four Seasons NEOM) are still listed as opening between 2026 and 2028. Booking isn't yet as streamlined as a normal resort, and access leans heavily toward yacht charter guests rather than regular travellers.

The Red Sea Project is the real success story. Developed separately by Red Sea Global (not NEOM), it has nine resorts fully operational as of 2026, including Six Senses Southern Dunes, The St. Regis Red Sea, Nujuma (a Ritz-Carlton Reserve), Shebara with its iconic steel bubble villas, Desert Rock carved into mountain cliffs, and the first Shura Island resorts like Rosewood and Jumeirah.

The Red Sea Coast: What It Costs

Here's where I need to be honest with you. This is firmly luxury territory, not a budget weekend getaway.

Resort	Opening	Typical Nightly Rate (2026)
Six Senses Southern Dunes	Nov 2023	From ~$716–$1,162
St. Regis Red Sea	Jan 2024	From ~$1,866; recent rates ~$2,329
Nujuma, Ritz-Carlton Reserve	May 2024	From ~$2,250
Shebara (steel pods)	Nov 2024	Contact resort directly
Desert Rock	Feb 2025	From ~$1,200–$1,500
Shura Island resorts (Rosewood, Jumeirah, etc.)	2025	$800–$2,000

Most rates include transfers (seaplane or yacht), a butler, breakfast, and activities like snorkelling. Seaplane transfers alone run SAR 870 one-way.

Getting there: Red Sea International Airport (RSI) receives Saudia flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, plus international connections from Dubai (flydubai), Doha (Qatar Airways) and seasonal Milan flights. For Pakistanis, the easiest routing is via Dubai or Doha.

Best time to visit: October to April, when temperatures sit between 20–30°C. Avoid May–September unless you enjoy 40°C+ heat.

The Visa Reality for Pakistani Passport Holders

This is the part most guides gloss over. Pakistan is not on Saudi Arabia's standard eVisa eligible countries list. However, Pakistanis can access an electronic tourist visa through the Package Visa service — you book a qualifying travel package through participating providers, and the visa is processed alongside your booking.

The alternative is the Umrah visa route, which most Pakistani travellers already know well. This is where a trusted agency genuinely earns its keep. Sorting the right visa pathway plus flights and hotels for a Red Sea trip can feel like a puzzle — HTG Travels (htg.com.pk) handles exactly this kind of multi-piece itinerary, including visa assistance and complete travel planning. You can even WhatsApp them at +92 325 1480148 for a quick reply on what's feasible for your dates and budget.

My Honest Verdict

Skip NEOM and Trojena entirely for now. The Line is stalled past 2030, Trojena has no firm opening, and Sindalah is still finding its feet as a yacht-focused destination. There's simply nothing there for a regular traveller yet.

Consider the Red Sea coast seriously — but only if you're comfortable with luxury-tier pricing. If a night at St. Regis or Nujuma fits your budget, the diving, stargazing and pristine coral reefs are genuinely world-class, and the resorts are fully operational with all the infrastructure in place.

For most Pakistani travellers, my practical suggestion is to wait a year or two. Prices may soften as more resorts open and capacity grows, and the visa process for Package Visas will likely become smoother. If you're set on visiting sooner, book 3–6 months ahead — capacity is capped at one million visitors annually, and top resorts sell out fast in the October–January season.

A Word Before You Go

Before we wrap up, my heart is with the people of Palestine and Sudan — so many families there are carrying burdens far heavier than any travel decision. Keep them in your prayers, and where you can, support trusted humanitarian relief. Small acts of kindness travel further than any plane.

Quick recap: NEOM and Trojena — not yet bookable, wait. Red Sea coast — genuinely open, stunning, but luxury-priced from $700+ per night. Pakistanis need a Package Visa or Umrah visa route, not the standard eVisa. Book months ahead if you go.

Written by Huzi — travel blogger at huzi.pk. Safe travels, and may your journeys be filled with honest wonder. More guides are waiting for you over on huzi.pk.

For help with Saudi visas, Red Sea resort bookings or complete trip planning, visit htg.com.pk or message +92 325 1480148 on WhatsApp.

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Planning your own trip? HTG Travels answers on WhatsApp at +92 325 1480148 or online at htg.com.pk.