Mukaab
The Mukaab was a planned tall cube-shaped skyscraper in the al-Qirawan district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, one of the five neighborhoods of the planned real estate development of New Murabba. Launched in February 2023, its cuboidal layout and design were inspired by the Murabba Palace.
If completed, the Mukaab would have been the world’s largest building by volume.
In January 2026, construction of the Mukaab was suspended.
Background
The Mukaab was announced by the Kingdom's ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on February 16, 2023, and is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 project.The Mukaab is planned to be the centerpiece of a giant new downtown built within the Saudi capital city of Riyadh called New Murabba. It will be the world's largest single-built structure with around of interior floor space.
The project will be undertaken by the New Murabba Development Company of which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the President.
Architecture
The cube is intended to be tall and wide on each of its four sides. The design has been the subject of some criticism for its similarity to the Kaaba at the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest shrine.The building's design is inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style.
The Mukaab's interior will feature a swirling tower for observation decks and restaurants, from which enormous holographic projections will emanate to make viewers feel as if they are in different realities, times, and places.
The Mukaab will also feature a rooftop garden.
History
In October 2024, the New Murabba Development Company stated that the site's groundwork was 86% complete.In January 2026, amid a Saudi review of several Vision 2030 megaprojects, Reuters reported that work on the project—beyond soil excavation and pilings—was suspended. The Mukaab would be the first megaproject in Riyadh to be reassessed for feasibility. Nearby real estate development was set to continue.