The new site aims to double the size and population of Saudi Arabia’s capital.
We love Saudi Arabia’s capital, but it’s about to get a little more exciting. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz has announced the latest megaproject, New Murabba Development Company.
The $800 billion project aims to double the size and population of the capital, and transform downtown Riyadh. Upon completion, the new megaproject will make the city more of a cultural hotspot. The site will include a museum, technology and design university, multi-purpose immersive theatre and more than 80 cultural and entertainment venues.
New Murabba Development Company will be located in the intersection of King Salman Road and King Khalid Road, which is in the northwest of Riyadh. Set over 19 square kilometres, it plans to encompass 104,000 homes, 9,000 hotels rooms and 1.4 million square metres of office space.
The Mukaab building will be the project’s magnum opus, as it will contain a striking exterior and state-of-the-art interiors. The cubic structure is 400 metres high and wide – to put that into perspective, it will be big enough to hold 20 Empire State buildings.
Drawing inspiration from Najd architecture, it brings a whole new meaning to the term immersive. The concept looks like something out of a sci-fi film, with holographics and virtual technology. The premium hospitality destination will include shops, hotels and recreational facilities.
New Murabba Development Company is in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil. Fittingly, it has an auspicious completion deadline of 2030.
The initiative is also expected to add riyals to the economy, and create 334,000 new jobs. The site aims to be built sustainably and feature cycling as well as walking paths, which promote a healthy lifestyle. So, there’ll be a 15-minute walking radius, and a 20-minute drive from the airport.
Riyadh, we’re excited.
GO: Visit www.vision2030.gov.sa for more information.
