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With a height of 145 meters, 3 dams, and excavation of 90,000 cubic meters of rock per week, Saudi Arabia advances in Trojena to create an artificial lake that changes the tourism map of the region.
Saudi Arabia is moving forward with one of the most ambitious projects in the desert with the creation of a 2.8 km artificial lake in Trojena, an area that is part of the megaproject NEOM. The proposal combines heavy engineering, luxury tourism, and winter sports in a region marked by extreme climate.
The plan envisions the formation of a new freshwater ecosystem amidst the mountains, with space for water activities, high-end hotels, and leisure facilities. In practice, the project expands the reach of the Saudi initiative and repositions the destination on the global tourism map.
Artificial lake advances in the heart of Trojena
The lake will be implemented in a mountainous area and is expected to cover 1.5 square kilometers of surface. The extent of 2.8 km highlights the scale of the intervention, transforming the local landscape and creating an unprecedented base for tourism and sports use.
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In addition to the visual impact, the project also serves a strategic function. The reservoir is expected to support the operation of facilities planned to host visitors, events, and competitions in an area designed to operate as a new hub for international attraction.
Three giant dams will close the valley
To contain the water volume, the project plans to construct 3 dams at critical points in the valley. The main one will be made of compacted concrete and will stand 145 meters tall, in addition to nearly half a kilometer in length.
The other two structures will complete the natural blockage of the area. One will be built in concrete and the other in rock, forming the set that will allow the creation of the lake and support all the infrastructure planned in the surroundings.
Project mobilizes 10,000 workers and billions in investment
The scale of the construction is already drawing attention due to the size of the operation. More than 10,000 workers are active in the region, in an intense execution rhythm that involves excavation, material reuse, and preparation of the future lake bed.
The reported investment for this phase reaches 4.3 billion euros. This amount shows that the project goes far beyond a landscaping initiative and fits as a central piece in the planned economic and tourism transformation for the country.
Heavy excavation accelerates the creation of the new landscape
According to Webuild, the Italian construction company responsible for major infrastructure works, the weekly movement reaches 90,000 cubic meters of rock. This material removed from the ground is reused in the lake’s own base, reducing the need for external transport.
The use of excavated rock reinforces the attempt to make the site efficient and accelerate execution. At the same time, the project consolidates the connection with the Saudi Vision 2030 program, which seeks to diversify the Saudi economy with new sectors and destinations.
Ski resort in the desert gains hotels and suspended structure
The lake area will also house a structure called The Bow, designed to be suspended over the void and accommodate luxury developments. Among them is the forecast for a JW Marriott hotel, enhancing the high-end tourism vocation of the complex.
In the surroundings, the planning includes a W Hotel with 236 rooms and an Anantara Resort with 270 rooms. The space is also expected to gather wellness areas, botanical islands, zones for diving, and facilities for tennis, horseback riding, and water sports.
Goal aims for visitors by 2026 and a continental event in 2029
The expectation is that Trojena will be ready to start receiving visitors by the end of 2026. This timeline serves as a decisive stage for the preparation of the region before the 2029 Asian Winter Games, an event that is expected to enhance the international profile of the destination.
Connectivity has also been included in the plan. The region is expected to have its own helipad and future integration into the high-speed train network, reinforcing the intention to transform the location into a permanent hub for circulation and business.
High altitude reinforces sustainability discourse
Trojena reaches an altitude of 2,600 meters, a condition that helps sustain the proposal for a mountain resort in the heart of the desert. The reuse of rock removed during excavations is one of the measures used to reduce impacts outside the project area.
Even with the sustainability discourse, what is seen is a rare-scale intervention in a desert area. The combination of extreme engineering, tourism, and sports events changes the strategic reading of the region.
The construction of the artificial lake in Trojena places Saudi Arabia at a new level of territorial and tourism ambition. The project unites 3 dams, billions in investment, and a delivery expected in the coming years, with a direct effect on the country’s image.
When the structure is completed, the impact will not be limited to leisure or the hotel sector. The project pressures the region and repositions the Middle East in the competition for new global destinations.
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