{{Short description|Proposed architectural project in Saudi Arabia}} {{Use American English|date=April 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox building | name = {{Lang|ar-Latn|Mukaab}} | image = Mukaab Illustration.png | caption = A conceptual render of the proposed Mukaab | native_name = المكعّب | native_name_lang = ar | location = Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | status = Under Construction | construction_start_date = 2024 | owner = New Murabba Development Company | architectural_style = Modern Najdi | height = {{cvt|400|m}} | floor_count = 70 | website = {{Official URL}} | est_completion = 2040 | opened_date = | architect = AtkinsRéalis |coordinates = {{coord|24.808118|46.569226|display=title,inline}} }} The '''''{{Lang|ar-Latn|Mukaab}}''''' ({{Langx|ar|المكعّب|lit=cube|translit=mukaʻʻab}}, {{IPA|ar|mukaʕʕab|}}) was a planned {{convert|400|meter|adj=on}} tall cube-shaped skyscraper in the al-Qirawan district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, one of the five neighborhoods of the planned real estate development of New Murabba. Launched in February 2023, its cuboidal layout and design were inspired by the Murabba Palace.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2023 |script-title=ar:من المربع القديم للجديد.. الـ"داون تاون" الأحدث عالمياً |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/1998127 |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=Al Riyadh |language=ar |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331150235/https://www.alriyadh.com/1998127 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ar:«المربع» بين زمنين في تاريخ العاصمة السعودية |url=https://aawsat.com/home/article/4168446/%C2%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%C2%BB-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B2%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=الشرق الأوسط |language=ar |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407160153/https://aawsat.com/home/article/4168446/%C2%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%C2%BB-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B2%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=العبوش |first=قحطان |script-title=ar:السعودية.. قصر المربع الطيني القديم يكتسب شهرة عالمية عبر مشروع جديد |url=https://www.eremnews.com/entertainment/yovjfrdjgq |access-date=2023-03-31 |script-website=ar:إرم نيوز |date=February 18, 2023 |language=ar |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331150435/https://www.eremnews.com/entertainment/yovjfrdjgq |url-status=live }}</ref> If completed, the Mukaab would have been the world’s largest building by volume.<ref> {{cite web |last=Rane |first=Aditi |date=2025-04-03 |title=World’s ‘biggest building’ will fit 20 Empire State Buildings and cost £400bn to build |url= https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2036385/world-biggest-building-mukaab-Saudi-Arabia# |website= express.co.uk |location= |publisher=Daily Express |access-date=2025-04-04}}</ref> In January 2026, construction of the Mukaab was suspended.<ref name="Reuters" />
== Background == The Mukaab was announced by the Kingdom's ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on February 16, 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mangioni |first=Sam |date=1 Mar 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia to Construct a Colossal Cube-Shaped Skyscraper the Size of 20 Empire State Buildings |url=https://manofmany.com/living/architecture/saudi-arabia-cube-shaped-skyscraper |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306214024/https://manofmany.com/living/architecture/saudi-arabia-cube-shaped-skyscraper |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Man of Many}}</ref><ref name="Paul_2023">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Trinetra |date=March 2, 2023 |title=The Mukaab: Saudi Arabia's New Project Is A Huge Cube-shaped Structure |url=https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/global/news/the-mukaab-saudi-arabias-new-project/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520044145/https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/global/news/the-mukaab-saudi-arabias-new-project/ |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Travel + Leisure Asia}}</ref> and is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia Announces Massive Cube Megabuilding in Riyadh |url=https://sand-boarding.com/mukaab-saudi-cube-skyscraper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308011215/https://sand-boarding.com/mukaab-saudi-cube-skyscraper/ |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Surf the Sand}}</ref>
The Mukaab was planned to be the centerpiece of a giant new downtown built within the Saudi capital city of Riyadh called New Murabba. It would have been the world's largest single-built structure with around {{convert|2|e6m2|e6ft2|abbr=off}} of interior floor space.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dobson |first=Amy Rose |date=Feb 24, 2023 |title=Large Enough To Fit 20 Empire State Buildings, An Immersive City Of The Future Unveils Its Plans |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amydobson/2023/02/24/large-enough-to-fit-20-empire-state-buildings-an-immersive-city-of-the-future-unveils-its-plans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320024345/https://www.forbes.com/sites/amydobson/2023/02/24/large-enough-to-fit-20-empire-state-buildings-an-immersive-city-of-the-future-unveils-its-plans/ |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Abraham |first=Roshan |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia's Latest Sci-Fi Project Is a Cube the Size of 20 Empire State Buildings |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/saudi-arabia-new-murabba-cube/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504113615/https://www.vice.com/en/article/88qw9b/saudi-arabia-new-murabba-cube |archive-date=May 4, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Vice Media}}</ref><ref name="Paul_2023" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Florian |first=Maria-Cristina |date=February 24, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia Unveils Design for the Mukaab, a Large-Scale Cube-Shaped Skyscraper in Riyadh |url=https://www.archdaily.com/997014/saudi-arabia-unveils-design-for-the-mukaab-a-large-scale-cube-shaped-skyscraper-in-riyadh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307163604/https://www.archdaily.com/997014/saudi-arabia-unveils-design-for-the-mukaab-a-large-scale-cube-shaped-skyscraper-in-riyadh |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=ArchDaily}}</ref>
The project was to have been undertaken by the New Murabba Development Company of which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the President.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benjamin |first=Sharon |date=February 23, 2023 |title=New Saudi megaproject: What we know about New Murabba, the world's largest downtown |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/construction/new-saudi-megaproject-what-we-know-about-new-murabba-the-worlds-largest-downtown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308013853/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/construction/new-saudi-megaproject-what-we-know-about-new-murabba-the-worlds-largest-downtown |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=ArabianBusiness}}</ref>
== Architecture == The cube was intended to be {{convert|400|meters}} tall and {{convert|400|meters}} wide on each of its four sides.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia: New Murabba Development Co. To Transform Downtown Riyadh |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/17022023-saudi-arabia-new-murabba-development-co-to-transform-downtown-riyadh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306121712/https://www.eurasiareview.com/17022023-saudi-arabia-new-murabba-development-co-to-transform-downtown-riyadh/ |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Eurasia Review |agency=Arab News}}</ref>
The design had been the subject of criticism for its similarity to the Kaaba at the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fatima |first=Sakina |date=February 24, 2023 |title=Saudi's cube-shaped project lands in controversy over 'replicating Kaaba' |url=https://www.siasat.com/saudis-cube-shaped-project-lands-in-controversy-over-replicating-kaaba-2534191/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305210404/https://www.siasat.com/saudis-cube-shaped-project-lands-in-controversy-over-replicating-kaaba-2534191/ |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=The Siasat Daily}}</ref> There have also been warnings from experts that the structure would collapse under its own weight.<ref>{{cite news | last = | first = | date = 10 February 2026 | title = Why Saudis feel squeezed even as the economy booms | url = https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/02/10/why-saudis-feel-squeezed-even-as-the-economy-booms | work = The Economist | location = | access-date = 14 February 2026 }}</ref>
The building's design was inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerrard |first=Neil |date=February 20, 2023 |title=The Mukaab: Huge cube city planned in Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.international-construction.com/news/the-mukaab-huge-cube-city-planned-in-saudi-arabia/8026779.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307212552/https://www.international-construction.com/news/the-mukaab-huge-cube-city-planned-in-saudi-arabia/8026779.article |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=International Construction}}</ref>
The Mukaab's interior was to have featured a swirling tower for observation decks and restaurants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia Reveals "Mukaab," a Massive New Cube-Shaped Skyscraper to Enclose Riyadh's Downtown |url=https://www.arch2o.com/saudi-arabia-reveals-mukaab-a-massive-new-cube-shaped-skyscraper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511081302/https://www.arch2o.com/saudi-arabia-reveals-mukaab-a-massive-new-cube-shaped-skyscraper/ |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Arch2O}}</ref>
The Mukaab was planned to feature a rooftop garden.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Adam |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Huge cuboid skyscraper 'big enough to hold 20 Empire State Buildings' |url=https://newatlas.com/architecture/mukaab-new-murabba-saudi-arabia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331223304/https://newatlas.com/architecture/mukaab-new-murabba-saudi-arabia/ |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=New Atlas}}</ref>
== History == In October 2024, the New Murabba Development Company stated that the site's groundwork was 86% complete.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Construction starts on world's largest building in Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2024/10/22/worlds-largest-building-saudi-arabia-mukaab-supertall/|website=Dezeen|date=2024-10-22|access-date=2026-01-27|language=en|first=Tom|last=Ravenscroft}}</ref>
In January 2026, amid a Saudi review of several Vision 2030 megaprojects, ''Reuters'' reported that work on the project—beyond soil excavation and pilings—was suspended. The Mukaab would be the first megaproject in Riyadh to be reassessed for feasibility. Nearby real estate development was set to continue.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |last1=Azhari |first1=Timour |last2=Al Sayegh |first2=Hadeel |last3=Maccioni |first3=Federico |title=Exclusive: Saudi Arabia suspends work on massive Mukaab megaproject, sources say |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-suspends-work-massive-mukaab-megaproject-sources-say-2026-01-27/ |access-date=27 January 2026 |work=Reuters |date=27 January 2026}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Saudi Vision 2030 projects
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mukaab}} Category:Proposed buildings and structures in Saudi Arabia Category:Buildings and structures under construction in Saudi Arabia Category:Skyscrapers in Riyadh Category:Cubic buildings