Saudi Arabia Suspends Construction of Mukaab Megaproject Amid Financing and Feasibility Review
Work beyond foundational excavation is paused on the 400-metre cube at Riyadh’s New Murabba development as funding priorities shift
Saudi Arabia has suspended planned construction of the Mukaab megaproject, a vast cube-shaped structure at the centre of the New Murabba district in Riyadh, while authorities review the project’s financing, timelines and long-term feasibility.
The decision affects work beyond initial soil excavation and foundational piling, and comes as the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund reassesses the economic viability and strategic priorities of large Vision 2030-linked developments.
The Mukaab was envisaged as a 400-metre-by-400-metre cuboid with an interior designed to house cultural, retail, hospitality and immersive digital attractions, featuring a more than 300-metre-tall terraced ziggurat and an artificial intelligence-powered dome display.
It was planned to be one of the largest single structures in the world, with interior space sufficient to accommodate millions of square metres of facilities.
People familiar with the matter said that the pause in construction reflects a broader shift in the Public Investment Fund’s investment strategy, with greater emphasis on projects intended to deliver clearer near-term economic returns.
Officials cited mounting fiscal pressures, including lower oil revenues than previously assumed, and the need to prioritise spending on infrastructure for events such as World Expo 2030 in Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, as well as ongoing development of cultural and tourism zones such as the Diriyah mixed-use project and the Qiddiya entertainment megaproject.
Although work beyond foundational stages has been halted, development of surrounding real estate and infrastructure in the New Murabba district is expected to continue.
Initial plans targeted completion of the wider district by 2030, but timelines have already extended toward the 2040s as the scale and complexity of construction have evolved.
The suspension of the Mukaab marks the first reported reassessment of a major Riyadh-based megaproject under the current review of Vision 2030 initiatives.
Project executives had previously described the Mukaab as an immersive destination that would redefine Riyadh’s cultural and commercial landscape, while acknowledging challenges in realising unprecedented architectural ambitions.
Officials from the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi government and the New Murabba Development Company did not provide comment on the future status of the Mukaab at the time of the announcement.
The decision affects work beyond initial soil excavation and foundational piling, and comes as the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund reassesses the economic viability and strategic priorities of large Vision 2030-linked developments.
The Mukaab was envisaged as a 400-metre-by-400-metre cuboid with an interior designed to house cultural, retail, hospitality and immersive digital attractions, featuring a more than 300-metre-tall terraced ziggurat and an artificial intelligence-powered dome display.
It was planned to be one of the largest single structures in the world, with interior space sufficient to accommodate millions of square metres of facilities.
People familiar with the matter said that the pause in construction reflects a broader shift in the Public Investment Fund’s investment strategy, with greater emphasis on projects intended to deliver clearer near-term economic returns.
Officials cited mounting fiscal pressures, including lower oil revenues than previously assumed, and the need to prioritise spending on infrastructure for events such as World Expo 2030 in Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, as well as ongoing development of cultural and tourism zones such as the Diriyah mixed-use project and the Qiddiya entertainment megaproject.
Although work beyond foundational stages has been halted, development of surrounding real estate and infrastructure in the New Murabba district is expected to continue.
Initial plans targeted completion of the wider district by 2030, but timelines have already extended toward the 2040s as the scale and complexity of construction have evolved.
The suspension of the Mukaab marks the first reported reassessment of a major Riyadh-based megaproject under the current review of Vision 2030 initiatives.
Project executives had previously described the Mukaab as an immersive destination that would redefine Riyadh’s cultural and commercial landscape, while acknowledging challenges in realising unprecedented architectural ambitions.
Officials from the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi government and the New Murabba Development Company did not provide comment on the future status of the Mukaab at the time of the announcement.
