Saudi Arabia unveils plans about cube-shaped skyscraper

Saudi Arabia is set to embark on an ambitious new construction project: the Mukaab, a monumental cube-shaped skyscraper designed to redefine the skyline of Riyadh.

The Mukaab will measure 400 meters on each side when completed, making it the largest structure in the world. This skyscraper will serve as the focal point of New Murabba, a new community envisioned as a key destination in the capital city of Riyadh, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“It’s masquerading as a building today but it’s so much more,” said Michael Dyke, chief executive officer of New Murabba, in an interview.

“Ultimately, a capital city the size of Riyadh deserves to have a global, central icon as other capital cities do.” New Murabba Development Co. has already excavated over 10 million cubic meters in preparation for the Mukaab's construction. The developer plans to award contracts worth tens of billions of riyals in the coming year to establish entertainment venues, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and a 45,000-seat stadium around the building, according to Dyke. 

New Murabba is one of several so-called giga-projects playing a crucial role in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision to reduce the kingdom's reliance on crude oil and transform it into a hub for entertainment, tourism, and manufacturing. However, officials have had to temper their ambitions at times due to the country's financial constraints. For example, Saudi Arabia has already scaled back its medium-term goals for The Line, a grand futuristic city intended to be contained within two mirror-clad skyscrapers along the Red Sea coast. For New Murabba, there is a clear timeline. 

The area is planned to feature 18 communities that can accommodate over 400,000 residents. The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by 2030 and will include around 8,000 homes, sufficient for about 35,000 people, Dyke noted. The timing for the Mukaab's construction is strategically aligned with Saudi Arabia’s hosting of Expo 2030, a six-month-long trade show featuring over 190 participating countries, set to commence in October of that year. “It’s really important that the whole of our core downtown is activated and ready for business to coincide with the Expo,” Dyke said.

Saudi Arabia has launched numerous striking projects in recent years. For example, in August, the country revealed plans to have 15 football stadiums prepared for the men’s FIFA World Cup 2034, which it is expected to host. 

The Mukaab is equally ambitious, featuring the world’s first fully-enclosed skyscraper and a dome designed to project holographic images that transport visitors of its planned 500-room hotel to various locations around the globe. “When you’re inside you cannot see the dome,” Dyke explained. “You could go to bed in the Serengeti and you can wake up in New York City. You can smell it, feel it and touch it.” The building will include 10 attractions across 2 million square meters of floor space, with an exterior inspired by Najdi architectural style, featuring interlocking triangles. As New Murabba develops, it is likely to encounter competition from other ambitious projects in the kingdom. 

By Naila Huseynova