Development of the Mukaab suspended
The development of the remaining real estate in the New Murabba mixed-use development in Riyadh is set to continue
Construction of the Mukaab mega project, which was destined to be the centre of the New Murabba mixed-use development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has been suspended. The New Murabba project is being developed by the New Murabba Development Company (NDMC), a firm owned by the Public Investment Fund.
Development of the remaining real estate in the mixed-use development is set to continue, according to a report by Reuters, citing unnamed sources who are familiar with the project’s plans.
The Mukaab was first announced in February 2023 and was planned to be a 400m by 400m metal cube containing a dome with an artificial intelligence (AI) powered display that visitors could observe from an over 300m tall ziggurat inside it. The display was expected to be the largest on the planet, while the Mukaab itself was expected to be the world’s largest single-built structure, offering 2m sqm of interior floor space.
The report said that work beyond soil excavation and pilings has been suspended, following a move by Saudi authorities to pivot from futuristic projects to initiatives that are more pressing and potentially profitable, such as the World Expo 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cup. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) was also said to be adjusting its strategy in October 2025, with a focus on logistics, mining and AI.
In early 2025, The Line in NEOM, which was originally envisioned as a 170km long, 500m tall metropolis that would eventually accommodate 9m people was also scaled back. Recent reports have stated that the planned city project may now become an AI data centre hub.
The report also said that the Kingdom is still currently conducting a review of several Vision 2030 mega projects.
