Mukaab
{{Short description|Proposed architectural project in Saudi Arabia}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox building
| name = {{Lang|ar-Latn|Mukaab}}
| image = Mukaab Illustration.png
| caption = A conceptual render of the proposed Mukaab
| native_name = المكعّب
| native_name_lang = ar
| location = Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| status = Under Construction
| start_date = 2024
| owner = New Murabba Development Company
| architectural_style = Modern Najdi
| height = {{cvt|400|m}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
| est_completion = 2030
|coordinates = {{coord|24.808118|46.569226|display=title,inline}}
}}
The {{Lang|ar-Latn|Mukaab}} ({{Langx|ar|المكعّب|lit=cube|translit=mukaʻʻab}}, {{IPA|ar|mukaʕʕab|}}) is a {{convert|400|meter|adj=on}} tall cube-shaped skyscraper under construction in the al-Qirawan district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, one of the five neighborhoods of the planned real estate development of New Murabba. Launched in February 2023, its cuboidal layout and design are inspired by the Murabba Palace.{{Cite web |date=18 February 2023 |script-title=ar:من المربع القديم للجديد.. الـ"داون تاون" الأحدث عالمياً |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/1998127 |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=Al Riyadh |language=ar |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331150235/https://www.alriyadh.com/1998127 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |script-title=ar:«المربع» بين زمنين في تاريخ العاصمة السعودية |url=https://aawsat.com/home/article/4168446/%C2%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%C2%BB-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B2%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=الشرق الأوسط |language=ar |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407160153/https://aawsat.com/home/article/4168446/%C2%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%C2%BB-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B2%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=العبوش |first=قحطان |script-title=ar:السعودية.. قصر المربع الطيني القديم يكتسب شهرة عالمية عبر مشروع جديد |url=https://www.eremnews.com/entertainment/yovjfrdjgq |access-date=2023-03-31 |script-website=ar:إرم نيوز |date=February 18, 2023 |language=ar |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331150435/https://www.eremnews.com/entertainment/yovjfrdjgq |url-status=live }}
Upon completion, the Mukaab will become the world’s largest building by volume. {{cite web |last=Rane |first=Aditi |date=2025-04-03 |title=World’s ‘biggest building’ will fit 20 Empire State Buildings and cost £400bn to build |url= https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2036385/world-biggest-building-mukaab-Saudi-Arabia# |website= express.co.uk |location= |publisher=Daily Express |access-date=2025-04-04}}
Background
The massive undertaking was announced by the Kingdom's ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on February 16, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Mangioni |first=Sam |date=1 Mar 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia to Construct a Colossal Cube-Shaped Skyscraper the Size of 20 Empire State Buildings |url=https://manofmany.com/living/architecture/saudi-arabia-cube-shaped-skyscraper |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306214024/https://manofmany.com/living/architecture/saudi-arabia-cube-shaped-skyscraper |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Man of Many}}{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Trinetra |date=March 2, 2023 |title=The Mukaab: Saudi Arabia's New Project Is A Huge Cube-shaped Structure |url=https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/global/news/the-mukaab-saudi-arabias-new-project/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520044145/https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/global/news/the-mukaab-saudi-arabias-new-project/ |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Travel + Leisure Asia}} The design has been the subject of some criticism for its similarity to the Kaaba at the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest shrine.{{Cite web |last=Fatima |first=Sakina |date=February 24, 2023 |title=Saudi's cube-shaped project lands in controversy over 'replicating Kaaba' |url=https://www.siasat.com/saudis-cube-shaped-project-lands-in-controversy-over-replicating-kaaba-2534191/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305210404/https://www.siasat.com/saudis-cube-shaped-project-lands-in-controversy-over-replicating-kaaba-2534191/ |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=The Siasat Daily}}
The interior as currently planned will feature enormous holographic projections aimed at making viewers feel as if they are in different realities, times, and places. The interior will also feature a swirling tower for observation decks and restaurants, from which the projections will emanate.{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia Reveals "Mukaab," a Massive New Cube-Shaped Skyscraper to Enclose Riyadh's Downtown |url=https://www.arch2o.com/saudi-arabia-reveals-mukaab-a-massive-new-cube-shaped-skyscraper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511081302/https://www.arch2o.com/saudi-arabia-reveals-mukaab-a-massive-new-cube-shaped-skyscraper/ |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Arch2O}}
The Mukaab is planned to be the centerpiece of a giant new downtown built within the Saudi capital city of Riyadh called New Murabba. It will be the world's largest single-built structure with around {{convert|2|e6m2|e6ft2|abbr=off}} of interior floor space.{{Cite web |last=Dobson |first=Amy Rose |date=Feb 24, 2023 |title=Large Enough To Fit 20 Empire State Buildings, An Immersive City Of The Future Unveils Its Plans |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amydobson/2023/02/24/large-enough-to-fit-20-empire-state-buildings-an-immersive-city-of-the-future-unveils-its-plans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320024345/https://www.forbes.com/sites/amydobson/2023/02/24/large-enough-to-fit-20-empire-state-buildings-an-immersive-city-of-the-future-unveils-its-plans/ |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Forbes}}{{Cite web |last=Abraham |first=Roshan |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia's Latest Sci-Fi Project Is a Cube the Size of 20 Empire State Buildings |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/saudi-arabia-new-murabba-cube/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504113615/https://www.vice.com/en/article/88qw9b/saudi-arabia-new-murabba-cube |archive-date=May 4, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Vice Media}}{{Cite web |last=Florian |first=Maria-Cristina |date=February 24, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia Unveils Design for the Mukaab, a Large-Scale Cube-Shaped Skyscraper in Riyadh |url=https://www.archdaily.com/997014/saudi-arabia-unveils-design-for-the-mukaab-a-large-scale-cube-shaped-skyscraper-in-riyadh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307163604/https://www.archdaily.com/997014/saudi-arabia-unveils-design-for-the-mukaab-a-large-scale-cube-shaped-skyscraper-in-riyadh |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=ArchDaily}}
The project will be undertaken by the New Murabba Development Company of which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the President.{{Cite web |last=Benjamin |first=Sharon |date=February 23, 2023 |title=New Saudi megaproject: What we know about New Murabba, the world's largest downtown |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/construction/new-saudi-megaproject-what-we-know-about-new-murabba-the-worlds-largest-downtown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308013853/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/construction/new-saudi-megaproject-what-we-know-about-new-murabba-the-worlds-largest-downtown |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=ArabianBusiness}}
The cube is intended to be {{convert|400|meters}} tall and {{convert|400|meters}} wide on each of its four sides.{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia: New Murabba Development Co. To Transform Downtown Riyadh |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/17022023-saudi-arabia-new-murabba-development-co-to-transform-downtown-riyadh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306121712/https://www.eurasiareview.com/17022023-saudi-arabia-new-murabba-development-co-to-transform-downtown-riyadh/ |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Eurasia Review |agency=Arab News}}
Plans for the cube are part of the Saudi Vision 2030 project.{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia Announces Massive Cube Megabuilding in Riyadh |url=https://sand-boarding.com/mukaab-saudi-cube-skyscraper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308011215/https://sand-boarding.com/mukaab-saudi-cube-skyscraper/ |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Surf the Sand}}
The building's design is inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style.{{Cite web |last=Gerrard |first=Neil |date=February 20, 2023 |title=The Mukaab: Huge cube city planned in Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.international-construction.com/news/the-mukaab-huge-cube-city-planned-in-saudi-arabia/8026779.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307212552/https://www.international-construction.com/news/the-mukaab-huge-cube-city-planned-in-saudi-arabia/8026779.article |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=International Construction}}
See also
References
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