Everything you need to know about The Mukaab in Riyadh

Check out the latest video inside the New Murabba Development Company.

The Mukaab in Riyadh hasn’t even opened and is already making headlines. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz recently announced the project, which is part of the New Murabba Development Company. Here’s everything you need to know about the exciting new megaproject. 

The $800 billion project aims to double the size and population of the capital. Upon completion, it aims to transform downtown Riyadh into one of the world’s largest modern downtown and the top ten most liveable cities. New Murabba Development Company is located at the intersection of King Salman Road and King Khalid Road, which is in the northwest of Riyadh. Set over 19 square kilometres, it plans to encompass 104,000 homes and 9,000 hotel rooms. Plus, there will be 980,000 square metres of retail space and 1.4 million square metres of office space. 

The initiative is also expected to add riyals to the economy and create 334,000 new jobs. The site aims to be built sustainably and feature cycling as well as walking paths, which promote a healthy lifestyle. Swap your taxis for trainers, as amenities will be within a 15-minute walking radius. Oh, and it’ll be a 20-minute drive from the airport. 

Inside The Mukaab 

London has Big Ben, Paris has The Eiffel Tower, and Riyadh will have The Mukaab. The building is the megaproject’s magnum opus, as it will contain a striking, shimmering gold exterior. The cubic structure is 400 metres high and wide – to put that into perspective, it will be big enough to hold 20 Empire State buildings. Plus, it will cover two million metres of floor space. 

The Mukaab describes itself as the world’s first immersive, experiential destination. The offering brings a whole new meaning to the term immersive experience. Drawing inspiration from Najd architecture, it combines the traditional with the cutting-edge. The concept looks like something from a science fiction film, boasting state-of-the-art interiors, from holographics to virtual technology. 

If you’re having trouble imagining it, check out PIF’s latest promotional video on Instagram, which helps bring the vision to life. The caption states: “Step inside The Mukaab and experience a climate-controlled environment where incredible holographic images transport you to Mars one day and magical worlds the next.” Plus, new images reveal underwater dining experiences and spaceship-like structures taking off.  

The interior of The Mukaab will include a tower atop a spiral base. This will be home to retail, cultural and tourist attractions, which include hotels, residences and recreational facilities. We’re talking a whopping 1.8 million square metres of community facilities and 620,00 square metres of leisure facilities. 

If that’s not impressive enough, there will also be a technology and design university, an innovation lab, and 80 cultural and entertainment venues. Entertainment venues span a Broadway district, cinema, concert hall, multi-purpose immersive theatre and opera house. Plus, cultural venues range from a gallery to a museum. 

New Murabba Development Company aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil. Fittingly, it has an auspicious completion deadline of 2030. 

Riyadh, we’re hooked. 

GO: Visit www.newmurabba.com for more information.