A major update has been issued regarding the world’s biggest contruction project, which includes a ski resort in the middle of a desert. Saudi Arabia‘s colossal Neom project now features an underground tunnel that will be pivotol in connecting futures visitors to the luxury destination. Trojena, one of the regions in Neom, has finished excavating its 680-metre B3 Tunnel, which the Lake Access Road to the Vault.
The Lake Access Road leads to the man-made lake at the heart of the tourist resort. Overlooking the site is the Vault, an architectural project designed as a vertical village embedded into the mountainside. The ski resort will heavily rely on artificial snow as it’s located in one of the world’s hottest desert countries. Saudi Arabia hopes to have it finished in time for the Asian Winter Games of 2029, which it intends to host.
Trojena spans nearly 870 square miles and boasts 18 miles of ski slopes, a dozen hotels, retail outlets, and restaurants.
It stands at over 8,500 feet on on top of the Jabal al-Lawz mountain, and features a vast artificial lake capable of holding up to 15 billion gallons of water.
Tomasso Ciancio, construction director at Webuild, said: “At Trojena, where every stone moved and every meter advanced reflects months of planning and sacrifice, I’m reminded daily why we push forward.
“Leadership in a place like this isn’t just about progress – it’s about resilience, belief, and the will to finish what we started. To everyone in this journey with me: thank you for waking up every day ready to build the impossible.”
Critics of the megaproject have accused it of greenwashing, claiming its sustainability goals are just to present an evironmentally friendly image, while it actually harms the environment and infringes on human rights.
There have also been rumours of delays and consistent budget overruns after Neom appointed a new CEO to speed up the poject.
The cost of the Neom project has escalated significantly from the initial estimated $500 billion (£368 billion) to a projected $8.8 trillion (£6.4 trillion) for the entire project by 2080, according to New Civil Engineer.
The first phase, expected to be completed by 2035, is estimated to cost $370 billion (£272 billion). The Saudi government, through its sovereign wealth fund (PIF), is the primary investor, with private sector participation also involved.
