Saudia Arabia started construction of Mukaab, a superstructure cube in Riyadh that is set to become the world’s largest building. It forms part of the master development plan called New Murabba, announced in February 2023.
Mukaab is 400 meters on all sides, and it is estimated to have enough space that 20 Empire State Buildings could fit inside the structure. It is of great importance to Michael Dyke, CEO of New Murabba, who said, “A capital city of the dimensions of Riyadh has a legitimate right to having an international iconic central icon”.
The structure includes the world’s first fully enclosed skyscraper, housing a dome that throws out holographic images of far-off places and a series of hotel rooms simulating environments all around the world. “You could go to bed in the Serengeti and wake up in New York City,” added Dyke, pointing to the immersive experience planned for guests.
New Murabba will make 8,000 homes housing 35,000 people and it is expected to be ready by 2030. It will host an aggregate population of 400,000. Mukaab is part of a development project being implemented in Saudi Arabia. The others are floating eight-sided city and luxurious resort in the Red Sea called Sindalah Island which is a part of NEOM project.
However, these huge plans bring with them reports of labor conditions in other related projects. Workers are reported to have been subjected to very long hours and poor rest periods, raising serious concerns over human rights practices in the kingdom. Let’s see what the future has in store for Saudia Arabia.
