With 828 meters and 163 floors, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ranks first on the list of the 10 tallest buildings in the world. However, Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is about to take that record from its neighboring country with its new construction. It is the New Murabba, the new building that will rise in the heart of the capital, with enough capacity to fit the equivalent of 20 Empire State Buildings.
The Mukaab is the centerpiece of this new construction, which will cover more than 21.5 million square feet of commercial, cultural, and entertainment space, including a 500-room luxury hotel. The goal is for this mega-project to combine traditional Najdi architecture with innovation. Phase One is expected to be completed in 2030, coinciding with Expo 2030.
Burj Khalifa
With a height of 828 meters and designed by Adrian Smith, the Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest skyscraper created by humans. Its construction began in 2004 and extended over time until it was inaugurated in 2010. It is located in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and houses luxury hotels, apartments, offices, and observation decks, making it a symbol of Dubai’s ambition as well as an important tourist destination. The building’s shape is inspired by the Hymenocallis flower, with a Y-shaped base that optimizes the use of light and the views from its interior.
New Mubarak
New Mubarak is a real estate megaproject under construction in the northwest of Riyadh, the easternmost city of Diriyah, in Saudi Arabia. It was the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who announced the project in February 2023, describing it as the largest modern urban center project in the world.
The Mukaab
This is the centerpiece of the New Mubbara, standing 1,312 feet tall (400 meters), with sides of equal length. It will take the form of a cube, with more than 21.5 million square feet of commercial, cultural, and entertainment space, including a 500-room luxury hotel. According to New Murabba’s CEO, Michael Dyke, “The Mukaab is designed to be a transformative landmark on Riyadh’s skyline, on par with the world’s most iconic structures”.
Construction Progress
Currently, the construction teams have completed 86% of the foundation excavation. This has required more than 400 pieces of heavy equipment and the deployment of 250 excavators. Work is being done on a volume equivalent to 4,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, with over 13 million cubic meters of earth moved.
Logistics
One of the main concerns is not to congest traffic on the roads of Riyadh, so a temporary bridge will be built over the King Khalid highway. Through this bridge, 800,000 van trips will be diverted from public roads.
Design
The exterior design of The Mukaab aims to preserve the traditional Najdi style, combined with innovation. The interior, however, will be completely futuristic and offer an immersive experience. It will feature walls capable of projecting images. “You could fall asleep in the Serengeti and wake up in Manhattan,” explains Dyke. More than 400,000 residents will make up the new district of The Mukaab, which is expected to complete Phase One by 2030, coinciding with Expo 2030.
