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May deadline for three new Mukaab packages

1 May 2025

 

Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Company (NMDC) has allowed firms until 7 May to prequalify for three new contracts covering the construction works on the Mukaab at the New Murabba downtown development in Riyadh.

MEED understands that the three packages comprise the Central Core Tower, Outriggers and Vertical Ribs, and could cost up to SR10bn ($2.6bn).

In April, MEED exclusively reported that NMDC had asked firms to submit their prequalification statements by 30 April for the three new packages.

NMDC is also evaluating the bids it received in November last year for a contract to undertake the raft concrete works beneath the wadi podiums and Mukaab.

The Mukaab is a Najdi-inspired landmark that will be one of the largest buildings in the world. It will be 400 metres high, 400 metres wide and 400 metres long. Internally, it will have a tower on top of a spiral base and a structure featuring 2 million square metres (sq m) of floor space designated for hospitality. It will feature commercial spaces, cultural and tourist attractions, and residential and hotel units, as well as recreational facilities.

In October last year, MEED reported that New Murabba had achieved significant construction progress on the Mukaab project.

According to an official statement released on 15 October: “Excavation works at the Mukaab and surrounding podium sites had reached 86% completion, with over 10 million cubic metres of earth moved.”

Beijing-headquartered China Harbour Engineering Company is carrying out the excavation works.

The foundation works for the Mukaab are being carried out by UAE-headquartered HSSG Foundation Contracting. 

Downtown destination

The New Murabba destination will have a total floor area of more than 25 million sq m and feature more than 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms and over 980,000 sq m of retail space.

The scheme will include 1.4 million sq m of office space, 620,000 sq m of leisure facilities and 1.8 million sq m of space dedicated to community facilities.

The project will be developed around the concept of sustainability and will include green spaces and walking and cycling paths to promote healthy, active lifestyles and community activities.

The living, working and entertainment facilities will be created within a 15-minute walking radius. The area will use an internal transport system and be about a 20-minute drive from the airport.

The downtown area will feature a museum, a technology and design university, an immersive, multipurpose theatre, and more than 80 entertainment and cultural venues.

READ THE MAY 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – clck here to view PDF

Gulf hunkers down as US tariffs let fly; Abu Dhabi looks to secure its long-term economic prosperity; Nesma stays on top as China State moves up in 2025 GCC contractor ranking

Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index inches upwards
To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
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Yasir Iqbal

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