Saudi Arabia's New Murabba Project expected to accommodate over 400,000 people
Saudi Arabia made waves last year
with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's announcement of a monumental
architectural project — a 400-meter-tall, cube-shaped skyscraper to be located
near Riyadh. The ambitious plan, dubbed Mukaab, will be the focal point of New
Murabba, a vast satellite city set to transform the kingdom’s urban landscape.
The Mukaab — an iconic structure
covering an area ten times the size of the Empire State Building — is poised to
become the centerpiece of Saudi Arabia’s urban vision. Part of the country’s
national development agenda, Saudi Vision 2030, the project will position New
Murabba as a cutting-edge metropolis that combines innovation, sustainability,
and luxury living.
Named after the late King Abdulaziz
ibn Saud’s main residence, New Murabba is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s
long-term development goals. In support of this massive undertaking, the Crown
Prince established the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), appointing Michael
Dyke—former CEO of the HS2 project at Balfour Beatty—as the company’s CEO.
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Global Partnerships for Innovation
At the Smart City Expo World Congress
held in Barcelona in November, Dyke spoke with The Korea Times about the
company’s search for global partners to help bring the vision of New Murabba to
life. The city, which is being developed in the northwest of Riyadh, is not
only looking for top-tier construction firms but also for technology companies
that can integrate cutting-edge solutions into the city’s infrastructure.
“New Murabba and the Mukaab will
serve as a gateway to Saudi Arabia’s future, showcasing state-of-the-art
technologies and innovative urban design,” Dyke stated. “We’re seeking partners
who can help us create a truly smart city, integrating the latest advancements
in technology, mobility, and sustainability.”
City of the Future
The New Murabba project will span an
impressive 27 million square meters and is expected to accommodate over 400,000
people. The development will include 100,000 residential units across 18
municipal communities, providing ample space for both living and working.
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Key features of the city will
include:
- 500,000 square meters of retail space — larger than the
Dubai Mall.
- 1.3 million square meters of office space, comparable
to the size of Wall Street and nearly five times the size of Apple Park.
- A 45,000-seat multipurpose sports stadium and
world-class facilities including schools, hospitals, and healthcare
centers.
- 15-minute walking distances between all major
facilities, with a focus on future mobility options such as autonomous
vehicles and advanced transport systems.
For the Mukaab, which will be the
city’s iconic symbol, the entire exterior will feature an ultra-high-resolution
wraparound LED screen, with immersive 4D physical effects, similar to the Sphere
in Las Vegas. The skyscraper is expected to host 27,000 people daily, with 90
million visitors annually once completed.
Innovative Technologies and Global
Partnerships
“We are in discussions with several
global tech leaders to bring this ambitious project to life,” Dyke confirmed.
“The integration of cutting-edge technologies is essential to our vision. From
smart infrastructure to sustainable solutions, we need industrial partners with
advanced engineering capabilities to help realize our goals.”
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Dyke also emphasized that while the
first phase of New Murabba is slated to be completed by 2030, the
project is designed with future growth in mind. “Technology is evolving
rapidly, so we’re ensuring there’s flexibility built into the design to
accommodate future advancements and the needs of the next generation,” he said.
Dyke’s outreach to global partners
includes visits to companies like Naver in South Korea, which he believes holds
promising technological solutions for the future. “With a young population—over
66% of Saudis are under 35—we see immense potential for growth and
collaboration,” Dyke added.
A Vision for the Future
The New Murabba project is part of a
broader vision to reshape Saudi Arabia’s urban landscape and diversify its
economy under Vision 2030. As the development progresses, it will set a new
standard for sustainable, technologically advanced, and highly livable urban
environments, placing Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global smart city
development.
Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/
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