New Murabba prepares Mukaab raft award
2 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Company (NMDC) is preparing to award a contract for work at the New Murabba downtown development in Riyadh. Its scope includes the raft concrete works beneath the wadi podiums and the Mukaab structure.
MEED understands that negotiations have reached advanced stages and the award could be finalised within weeks.
NMDC issued the tender notice in August last year, with contractors initially given until 27 October to submit their commercial bids.
The raft construction package is expected to be worth SR3.8bn-SR4.4bn ($1bn-$1.1bn).
In May, NMDC invited companies to prequalify for a contract that requires them to form consortiums to execute the main works for the Mukaab at the New Murabba development.
In October last year, MEED reported that New Murabba had achieved significant construction progress on its Mukaab development.
According to an official statement released on 15 October: “Excavation works at the Mukaab and surrounding podium sites have 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.
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, residential and hotel units, as well as recreational facilities.
The New Murabba development is divided into three sections: infrastructure, buildings and the Mukaab.
Contractors are expected to form joint ventures or consortiums to deliver the packages.
MEED understands that NMDC plans to develop the project infrastructure on a public-private partnership basis.
Downtown destination
The New Murabba destination will total more than 25 million sq m of floor area 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 active lifestyles and community activities.
The living, working and entertainment facilities will be developed within a 15-minute walking radius. The area will use an internal transport system and will 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.
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The bid submission deadline is 26 February.
The first scheme under the package is TF-16-C1, which involves upgrading and rehabilitating the stormwater system east of the Dubai Canal.
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Modon tenders Ras El-Hekma construction contracts
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Abu Dhabi-based developer Modon Holding has tendered several contracts as part of the first phase of development at Ras El-Hekma, a planned new city on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
MEED understands that the tenders were issued in January.
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Modon has accelerated development works at Ras El-Hekma this year. In January, MEED reported that Modon Holding had awarded a E£15bn ($316m) contract for the construction of a project at Ras El-Hekma.
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Ras El-Hekma is on a spur of land on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coastline, about 240 kilometres west of Alexandria.
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Chinese firm wins Ceer automotive supplier park deal
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