Mukaab is an ambitious mega-project currently being planned for construction in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. It is expected to be an indoor super-city that will cover an area of 48 square kilometers and house a population of around 1.5 million people.
The project is being led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, and is part of the country’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil. The aim of the project is to create a sustainable, innovative, and high-tech city that will attract businesses and talent from around the world.
Mukaab will feature a range of facilities, including residential areas, commercial and retail spaces, entertainment venues, and green spaces. The city will be powered by renewable energy and will be designed to reduce its environmental impact. It will also incorporate smart city technologies to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
One of the most unique features of Mukaab is its indoor design. The city will be enclosed by a massive glass dome, which will provide protection from the harsh desert climate and create a comfortable year-round environment. The dome will also be equipped with advanced climate control systems to maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level.
Mukaab is still in the planning stages, and construction is expected to begin in 2022. It is estimated that the project will cost around $500 billion and take up to 20 years to complete. Once finished, Mukaab is expected to be a major tourist attraction and a hub for innovation and investment in the region.
Mukab will be part of the broader New Murabba project, a development plan aimed at transforming a 19-square-kilometer area northwest of Riyadh into a vibrant mixed-use district. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz announced the project in February 2021, which will be overseen by New Murabba Development Company.
The building is based on modern Najdi architecture but with a futuristic twist. According to its developers, The Mukaab features an “ever-changing environment” that uses digital and virtual technology to create a holographic display that interacts with the surrounding cityscape.
Let’s say Saudis love great ideas! The cube will include a spiral-based tower and a 2 million square foot structure that will be a hospitality destination complete with retail, cultural and tourist attractions. It also includes residential and hotel units, commercial spaces and leisure facilities. In total, the New Murabba project will include 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, 980,000 square meters of retail space and 1.4 million square meters of office space. It also has 1.8 million square meters of space for community facilities.
The New Murabba project aims to be a model of sustainable urban development, with green spaces and walking and biking paths designed to promote a healthy lifestyle. The district also has museums, museums of technology and design, theaters and more than 80 entertainment and cultural venues.
