The Mukaab
A 400-metre cube-shaped structure planned as the centrepiece of the New Murabba development in Riyadh, designed to be the world's largest building by volume.
Definition
The Mukaab (Arabic: “the cube”) is a planned 400-metre-tall, 400-metre-wide, 400-metre-deep cube-shaped mega-structure in the al-Qirawan district of northwestern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Announced in February 2023 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it is the anchor landmark of the New Murabba development and would be the largest building in the world by volume if completed. Construction was suspended in January 2026 amid a broader recalibration of PIF giga-project spending.
Overview
The Mukaab is designed to contain approximately 2 million square metres of interior floor space across hotel, residential, retail, entertainment, and cultural uses. Its interior concept features a 300-metre spiral ziggurat tower and the world’s largest AI-powered immersive dome display. The design draws on Najdi architectural traditions and is developed by AtkinsRealis, with AECOM and Jacobs appointed for detailed engineering. The project is owned by New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund.
Excavation reached 86 per cent completion before the January 2026 suspension, with over 10 million cubic metres of earth moved. The original 2030 completion target has been revised to approximately 2040. The structure’s unprecedented scale presents unresolved engineering challenges in structural integrity, climate control, water supply, and immersive display technology.
Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 400m x 400m x 400m |
| Interior floor area | 2 million sqm (22 million sqft) |
| Structural steel | 1 million tonnes |
| Estimated cost | $50 billion+ (full New Murabba district) |
| Developer | New Murabba Development Company (PIF) |
| Architect | AtkinsRealis (concept), AECOM and Jacobs (detailed design) |
| Construction manager | Parsons Corporation |
| Announced | 16 February 2023 |
| Construction suspended | 28 January 2026 |
| Revised completion | ~2040 |
| GDP contribution (projected) | SAR 180 billion ($48 billion) |
| Jobs (projected) | 334,000 |
Role in Vision 2030
The Mukaab was conceived as a signature expression of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to transform Riyadh into a top-tier global city and establish the Kingdom as a destination for tourism, entertainment, and technology-driven experiences. Its suspension is part of a wider recalibration of Vision 2030 giga-projects, as the Kingdom shifts from announcement-phase ambition to delivery-focused execution prioritising Expo 2030, the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and AI infrastructure investments.
For a full analysis of The Mukaab’s suspension and its implications, see The Mukaab: Inside Saudi Arabia’s $50 Billion Cube and Why It Was Suspended.