RIYADH: A new company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has been launched to build what is being billed as the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh. This is first and the largest project by the Saudi government in Riyadh supporting non-oil GDP by up to 180 billion Riyals.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman announced the launch of the “Murabba” project on Wednesday last week. The Mukaab, as it will be called, will be the centerpiece of the new downtown core of the city called New Murabba aims to provide 104,000 housing and 9,000 hospitality units besides creating 334,000 jobs.
The iconic landmark featuring the latest innovative technologies would be 20kms away from the airport will be based on the concept of sustainability, featuring green areas with walking and cycling paths that will enhance the quality of life by promoting healthy, active lifestyles and community activities.
It will also include a museum, a technology and design university, a multipurpose immersive theatre, and over 80 entertainment and culture venues.
The design of the Mukaab includes first-of-its-kind facilities and will be one of the largest built structures in the world, standing 400m high, 400m wide, and 400m long. The project is expected to be completed in 2030. The cubic shape of the Mukaab will be inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style, one that is being used in the development of the Diriyah giga project in Riyadh too.
In a bid to develop the country’s tourism and leisure assets as it attempts to diversify its economy beyond oil, the PIF which is the country’s sovereign wealth fund, recently included the Diriyah Project in Riyadh as its fifth giga project. Diriyah is a US$63.2 billion mixed-use development and features the UNESCO World Heritage site of the mud-brick-walled At-Turaif District. Mukaab comes in less than an year after the Saudi govt announced the single line city NEOM.