Italian firm WeBuild awarded $5bn mega dam project to create artificial lakes at Trojena

Italian contractor WeBuild has been awarded a contract worth an estimated SR20 billion ($5 billion) to build dams to create an artificial lake at the center of NEOM’s Trojena project. (MEED)
Short Url
Updated 15 January 2024
Follow

Italian firm WeBuild awarded $5bn mega dam project to create artificial lakes at Trojena

  • Mountain ski resort in Kingdom’s northwest due to host Asian Winter Games in 2029

LONDON: Italian contractor WeBuild has been awarded a contract worth an estimated SR20 billion ($5 billion) to build dams to create an artificial lake at the center of NEOM’s Trojena project, it was announced on Monday.

The mountain ski resort in the Kingdom’s northwest is due to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029.

According to a statement released by MEED, the project’s main dam will be 145 meters high, 475 meters long at the crest, and will be built using 2.7 million cubic meters of roller compact concrete.

Two other, smaller dams will also be built and be connected to the nearby Lake Village by an underwater tunnel, and the works will include foundations for the Bow Building, which will house a hotel.

The WeBuild contract is the second such award for the Trojena project after Saudi firm Al-Ayuni Investment and Contracting Company and Turkiye’s Limak Holding were given a SR4.5 billion infrastructure development contract. It is the second major contract awarded for the development at Trojena. 

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of the Trojena resort in March 2022.


Closing Bell: Saudi main market closes the week in red at 10,526 

Updated 25 December 2025
Follow

Closing Bell: Saudi main market closes the week in red at 10,526 

RIYADH: Saudi equities ended Thursday’s session modestly lower, with the Tadawul All Share Index slipping 14.63 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 10,526.09.    

The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index also declined 3.66 points, or 0.26 percent, to 1,389.66. In contrast, the parallel market outperformed, as Nomu jumped 237.72 points, or 1.02 percent, to close at 23,430.93.  

Market breadth on the main market remained tilted to the downside, with 156 stocks ending lower against 99 gainers.    

Trading activity eased further, with volumes reaching 80.46 million shares and total traded value amounting to SR1.66 billion ($442 million).    

On the movers’ board, Saudi Industrial Export Co. led the gainers, rising 6.6 percent to SR2.10, followed by Consolidated Grunenfelder Saady Holding Co., which advanced 6.43 percent to SR9.60.    

Raoom Trading Co. climbed 4.36 percent to SR61.05, while Astra Industrial Group gained 4.35 percent to close at SR139. Riyadh Cables Group Co. added 3.77 percent to end the session at SR135.00.    

On the downside, Methanol Chemicals Co. topped the losers’ list, falling 5.96 percent to SR7.41.  

Flynas Co. retreated 5.43 percent to SR61.00, while Leejam Sports Co. dropped 5 percent to close at SR100.80.    

Alramz Real Estate Co. slipped 4.64 percent to SR55.50, and Almasane Alkobra Mining Co. declined 4.55 percent to SR84.00.  

On the announcement front, ACWA Power said it has completed the financial close for the Ras Mohaisen First Water Desalination Co., a reverse osmosis desalination project with a capacity of up to 300,000 cubic meters per day, alongside associated potable water storage facilities totaling 600,000 cubic meters in Saudi Arabia’s Western Province.    

The project was financed through a consortium of local and international banks, with total funding of SR2.07 billion and a tenor of up to 29.5 years, while ACWA Power holds an effective 45 percent equity stake.  

Shares of ACWA Power ended the session at SR185.90, up SR0.2, or 0.11 percent.     

Meanwhile, Consolidated Grunenfelder Saady Holding Co. announced the sign-off of a customized solutions project with Saudi Aramco Nabors Drilling Co., valued at SR166.0 million excluding VAT.    

The 24-month contract covers the sale and maintenance of field camp facilities, with the financial impact expected to begin from the first quarter of 2026.