The Mukaab: Huge Cube City Planned in Saudi Arabia

The Mukaab, which the Public Investment Fund claims would be large enough to hold 20 Empire State Buildings, will be the centrepiece of a new downtown in Riyadh.

What Makes Mukaab Different

It is a component of the larger New Murabba initiative, which Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz declared. The New Murabba Development Company will oversee the project.

One of the biggest buildings in the world, according to plans, will be the Mukaab. Its creators say it will be able to provide “ever-changing environments” by utilising digital and virtual technologies to produce holographics. The design is modelled after the contemporary Nadji architectural style.

The cube will have a building with two million square metres of floor area. It will have also a tower perched above a spiral foundation. It will be a hospitality destination with retail, cultural and tourist attractions. Furthermore, it will also feature residential and hotel units, commercial spaces and recreational facilities.

The wider New Murabba project will feature green areas and walking and cycle paths to promote healthy lifestyles. It will also be home to a museum, technology and design museum, theatre, and more than 80 entertainment and cultural venues.

It will sit at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads to the north-west of Riyadh, over an area of 19 sq km. The plan involves building 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, 980,000 sq m of retail space, and 1.4 million sq m of office space. There will also be 1.8 million sq m of space dedicated to community facilities.

New Murabba promises living, working, and entertainment spaces within a 15-minute walking radius, with a 20-minute drive to the airport.