UK executive sues Saudi developer for $100m in unpaid bonuses

A former chief executive of Saudi Arabia’s largest property developer has launched a $100 million lawsuit against the state-owned group chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the Financial Times has revealed.

David Grover, who previously led major UK construction projects including London’s Shard during his 30-year career at Mace, is seeking compensation from Roshn, a real estate group backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), for allegedly unpaid bonuses and unfair termination of employment.

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According to details revealed in the FT, Grover was fired from his position as chief executive in April 2024. The lawsuit claims he is owed substantial bonuses related to performance targets achieved between 2020 and his termination, as well as payments linked to a rolling three-year contract that was meant to extend until 2029.

Roshn has defended its position by claiming Grover was dismissed over an alleged conflict of interest involving the rental of his French properties to company executives during a real estate conference in Cannes. However, sources close to Grover maintain he had fully disclosed his ownership of the properties to the company’s human resources department, who supported the arrangement as a cost-saving measure.

The case has drawn attention as it comes at a crucial time for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 programme, spearheaded by the Crown Prince. The initiative has seen the kingdom actively recruiting top Western executives to help modernise its economy beyond oil dependency. Under Grover’s leadership, Roshn is said to have become instrumental in this vision, tasked with building 400,000 new homes to achieve 70 per cent home ownership among Saudi nationals by 2030.

During his tenure, Grover transformed Roshn from a startup into the kingdom’s largest property developer, constructing not only homes but also entertainment districts, hospitals, schools, and mosques. Sources cited by the FT suggest Grover had also begun pushing for improved transparency in the company’s contracting processes before his dismissal.

The legal battle has entered a critical phase after Grover lost the initial stage of the case in October. An appeal is scheduled to be heard in a higher court in Riyadh later this month, with the possibility of escalation to Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court if necessary. The case is being closely watched by international observers as a test of recent judicial reforms introduced by the crown prince to improve the kingdom’s business environment and attract foreign expertise.

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