New Murabba

The New Murabba is a large-scale mixed-use real estate development under construction in Riyadh. The megaproject, launched in 2022, aims to redefine Riyadh’s urban landscape and skyline¹, and become the world’s largest modern downtown. The project’s vision is to develop “a new city district that serves as a gateway to another world,” focusing on promoting a unique living, working and entertainment experience². The project is set to feature the iconic cube-shaped Mukaab skyscraper, one of the world’s largest built structures, that aims to redefine hospitality, retail, and luxury leisure experiences ³. Additionally, the New Murabba project is a pivotal part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiativeⁱ, aimed at diversifying the kingdom’s economy and reducing dependence on oil revenues⁴.

To implement the project’s vision, a comprehensive master plan was proposed, extending over a 19 square kilometer area in north-west central Riyadh, in a strategic location just a 20-minute drive from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport ⁵. The masterplan includes a mix of residential areas, hotels, and retail spaces, as well as leisure assets and community facilities⁶. It features around 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and 980,000 square metres of retail space⁷. It also features an iconic museum, a technology and design university, and more than 80 entertainment and culture venues⁸. The highlight of the plan is the Mukaab, a 400 cubic-meter landmark “that will be the world’s first immersive destination, featuring tower on top of a spiral base which will showcase cutting-edge technologies and the latest holographics”⁹, surrounded by “two million square meters of floor space, with premium retail, cultural, and tourist attractions, in addition to residential and hotel units, commercial spaces, and recreational facilities” ¹⁰.

Here, the commercial, recreational, and touristic activities strive to attract investments and foster innovation, which in turn seeks to enhance the city’s global appeal directly in tourism and indirectly across commercial and construction industries¹¹. Sustainability will be a central element of the project, which features green areas and pedestrian paths to enhance the quality of life in the city and promote a healthy lifestyle¹². In this sense, the New Murabba intends to become a landmark destination for visitors, including international and local residents alike. It is expected to create 334,000 direct and indirect jobs and add a $47 billion non-oil contribution to the Saudi GDP upon completion​​by 2030 ¹³.

The project was initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman¹⁴. The New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has specified a master plan for the project, characterized by its blend of traditional Najdi and modern elements¹⁵. The master plan will be implemented by various contractors, where the overall estimated project construction cost more than $50 billion¹⁶.

The project has been under implementation over several key phases since its launch:

• First Phase: Development of the Mukaab and surrounding district.
• Second Phase: Development of a business district.
• Third Phase: Completion of the project, including a new airport and high-speed train station ¹⁷.

The project is scheduled for completion by 2030¹⁸, in time for the upcoming Expo Riyadh 2030¹⁹.