Saudi Arabia Abandons £3.7 Billion Trojena Artificial Lake Project Amid Massive Neom Contract Terminations

Neom terminates $4.7bn contract with Webuild for the Trojena artificial lake. Work stops at 30% completion on Saudi Arabia's ambitious mountain resort.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 12, 2026, 4:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from New Civil Engineer

Sudden Termination of Mountain Resort Infrastructure

The massive architectural and civil engineering project intended to transform the Trojena mountains in Saudi Arabia has been abruptly halted following a "termination for convenience" by the developer, Neom. Webuild, the Italian construction firm spearheading the $4.7 billion venture, confirmed that the contract for an artificial lake and a series of complex dams has been revoked. This decision effectively ends work on a site that was central to the kingdom's vision for a high altitude winter sports destination.

Scope of the Abandoned Civil Engineering Works

The ambitious project involved the construction of a 2.8 kilometer long freshwater lake supported by an intricate system of three dams. The primary structure was designed as a roller compacted concrete dam standing 145 meters high and 475 meters long, capable of holding 2.7 million cubic meters of water. A second concrete dam and a third rock fill dam were also planned to facilitate the massive water volume required for the 1.5 square kilometer artificial body of water.

The Cancellation of the Architectural Bow

Included in the now terminated contract was "The Bow," a dramatic architectural overhang designed to extend over a valley and house a luxury hotel and residential atrium. This structure was intended to be the center of gravity for the Trojena region, serving as a public space for water sports and cultural events. Despite the scale of the vision, Neom exercised its right to end the contract as of March 29, 2026, marking a significant shift in the development timeline for the broader gigaproject.