First look: Saudi Arabia unveils 400m tall ‘cube’ skyscraper

‘Mukaab’ will be the largest structure ever built, larger than 20 Empire State Buildings combined

by Staff writer 21 February 2023

The Saudi Arabian government is set to build a giant cube-shaped skyscraper named ‘Mukaab’ as part of its Murabba downtown plan in Riyadh.

The 19-square-kilometre development is being planned as a new downtown area for the Saudi capital city.

The new city centre will be built around the Mukaab structure, which will be set to be one of the largest built structures in the world.

The building will be 400 metres high and 400 metres long on each side. It will become the tallest building in the city and reportedly larger than 20 Empire State Buildings put together.

Mukaab will be enclosed in a facade made of overlapping triangular forms, influenced by the modern Najdi architectural style.

The tower will contain two million square metres of shops and attractions and have an almost full-height atrium space, replete with a spiralling tower.

Mukaab forms part of the wider Murabba district announced by Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman.

The broader development will contain over 100,000 residential units and 9,000 hotel rooms, along with more than 980,000 square metres of shops and 1.4 million square metres of office space.

Saudi Arabia