Saudi Arabia continues to transform the country into a global tourism and innovation center within the framework of the "Vision 2030" strategy. One of the most ambitious parts of this plan is the futuristic megapolis project called NEOM. The mountain complex named Trojena located within it is intended to be one of the first areas to offer mountain tourism all year round.
Medianews.az reports that Qaynarinfo has released information on this matter.
Engineers planned to create an artificial lake and a luxury resort in the rocky desert area in this region. Trojena is located approximately 50 km away from the Gulf of Aqaba and is distinguished by mountain peaks reaching 2600 meters. This altitude cools the climate significantly compared to the surrounding plains.
The idea of building a lake in the mountains
The main goal of the project was to enable mountain ski tourism together with artificial snow systems and, at the same time, to create a "waterside" tourism atmosphere through the artificial lake. However, maintaining such a lake in an arid area presents serious engineering challenges.
For the reservoir to operate, a continuous water supply and management of evaporation losses are essential. Therefore, the project carried significant risks both technically and environmentally.
Three-dam engineering system
The plan involved constructing three different dams instead of one large dam. Two dams were to be concrete, and one was to be a rock-fill (embankment type) structure. This approach was chosen to facilitate water management in the complex terrain.
One of the dams was to be built using the "roller compacted concrete" (RCC) technology. In this method, concrete is poured in layers and compacted with heavy machinery. As a result, a sturdy structure approximately 145 meters high is obtained.
However, this technology demands high precision: there must be no gaps or weaknesses between layers; otherwise, there is a risk of water leakage. Approximately 90 thousand cubic meters of excavation were carried out weekly at the construction site.
Major hotel plans and international interest
The project also attracted the attention of hotel brands. Marriott and other international companies planned to build luxury resorts around the lake. These included hotels with hundreds of rooms, an artificial "water village," and premium recreation zones.
Trojena was also considered as a potential venue for the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
Project suspension
At the beginning of 2026, transferring the Winter Games to another country reduced the pressure on Trojena. However, in March, NEOM canceled the contract for the three dams and "The Bow" structure within the project framework.
Approximately 30 percent of the construction work had been completed. The overall project cost was in the billions of euros, and the cancellation decision caused major financial and organizational changes.
Currently, the future of the Trojena project is uncertain: neither a new timeline nor an alternative plan has been announced. This affects both tourism and infrastructure plans.
Conclusion
The Trojena project demonstrates how ambitious modern engineering can be, and at the same time, it reveals how such projects can clash with economic and environmental realities.