New Murabba: Top 5 things you didn’t know about the world’s largest downtown
06 Mar. 2023Stacked structures, cube-like buildings, and underwater restaurants; the future is here as Saudi Arabia’s latest gigaproject makes it clear.
Backed by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the New Murabba project, to be developed by the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), is set to become the world’s largest modern downtown covering an area of 19km2 and offering more than 25 million m2 of floor area. Seeking to diversify the country’s heavily oil-reliant economy, wealth funds and investors hope to attract tourists through modernisation efforts. The New Murabba project is one of several projects currently underway in Saudi Arabia, aiming to do just that. The NMDC project will be situated at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads to the North West of Riyadh, and will “accommodate hundreds of thousands of residents”, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Top 5 things you didn't know about
- The New Murabba is big enough to hold 20 Empire State Buildings.
- It will feature a unique living, working, and entertainment experience within a 15-minute walking radius.
- The façade of The Mukaab will feature delicately carved geometric motifs as a tribute to the kingdom’s rich Islamic history.
- The Mukaab is inspired by modern Najdi architecture.
- The downtown will be built around the concept of sustainability, featuring green areas and walking and cycling paths that will enhance the quality of life by promoting healthy, active lifestyles, and community activities.
