MUKAAB - Saudi Arabia’s Next Mega-Project

 MUKAAB - Saudi Arabia’s Next Mega-Project

Have you seen Saudi Arabia's latest Riyadh megaproject proposal? The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has launched a daring new project that claims to be the world's largest contemporary downtown, large enough to house 20 Empire State Towers. The Mukaab is a 400-meter-tall, 400-meter-wide cube metropolis that will serve as the focal point of Riyadh's new downtown region.

                                                                pic - hotelier middle east

The Mukaab will be part of the larger New Murabba project, which intends to turn a 19-square-kilometer region northwest of Riyadh into a thriving mixed-use neighbourhood. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz launched the project in February 2021, which would be handled by the New Murabba Development Corporation.

The structure will be built on current Najdi architecture, but with a futuristic twist. The Mukaab, according to the developers, would provide "ever-changing settings" by utilising digital and virtual technologies to generate holographic displays that interact with the surrounding urban scene.

Let we mention that Saudis appreciate great ideas! The cube will have a tower above a spiral base, as well as a building with 2 million square metres of floor area that will serve as a hospitality destination with retail, cultural, and tourism attractions. It will also include residential and hotel units, as well as commercial and recreational areas. The New Murabba project will have a total of 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, 980,000 square metres of retail space, and 1.4 million square metres of commercial space. A total of 1.8 million square metres will be allocated to community facilities.

The New Murabba project is destined to become a paradigm for sustainable urban development, with green spaces and walking and cycling lanes meant to encourage healthy living. A museum, a technology and design museum, a theatre, and more than 80 leisure and cultural institutions will also be located in the neighbourhood.

New Murabba residents will have access to living, working, and leisure venues within a 15-minute walking radius, and the airport will be only a 20-minute drive away. According to the project's promoters, it will generate more than 350,000 employment, making it a key engine of economic growth in the region.

The full New Murabba project is expected to be completed by 2030, with the Mukaab completed several years early. The completion of the project will be a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia's continuing economic reform, as the kingdom seeks to diversify away from its reliance on oil and gas exports.

The Mukaab and the larger New Murabba project are strong indications of the Saudi government's aim to establish the nation as a leader in technology, innovation, and sustainable development. If the initiative is successful, it might establish a new standard for large-scale urban development projects across the world.