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UK firms design Riyadh cube city

1 March 2023

UK consultancy firm Atkins is working on the recently launched New Murabba project in Riyadh, which includes the 400-metre-cubed Mukaab building.

Another UK firm, Buro Happold, is working with Atkins on the project.

The development, which is planned to be the world’s largest modern downtown, will be built on a 19 square-kilometre site located at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads to the northwest of the Saudi capital.

At the centre of the development will be the Mukaab. It is a Najdi-inspired landmark. The cube structure will be one of the largest buildings in the world and will be 400 metres high, 400 metres wide and 400 metres long.

The Mukaab will encompass a tower on top of a spiral base and a structure featuring 2 million sq m of floor space designated for hospitality. It will feature commercial spaces and cultural and tourist attractions, along with residential and hotel units and recreational facilities.

Downtown development

Overall, the New Murabba will total more than 25 million square metres (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 new project will be developed around the concept of sustainability and include green areas and walking and cycling paths to promote healthy, active lifestyles and community activities.

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

A museum, a technology and design university, an immersive, multipurpose theatre, and more than 80 entertainment and cultural venues will be part of the downtown area.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud has launched the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC) to develop the project in mid-February.

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Colin Foreman

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