From The Line, the 170km long, 500m high 15-minute city, to a floating eight-sided city named the Oxagon and the Burj Jeddah (soon to be the tallest in the building world), it seems like every year a staggering new construction project from Saudi Arabia pushes the boundaries of what’s considered possible in the built environment.

One of the most striking of these so-called ‘megaprojects’, all funded by the Public Investment Fund, is New Murabba, and with it the Mukaab – a 400m-high cuboid skyscraper.

What is New Murabba?

New Murabba is a mixed-use development that will be located in the city of Riyadh. Described as ‘a unique living, working and entertainment experience’, this district is the world’s largest modern downtown project, with a planned area of 19km(2).

Like The Line, New Murabba is designed to function under the principles of the 15-minute city, meaning its inhabitants will be able to access everything they need within a short distance. As Michael Dyke, CEO of the project, stated:

“New Murabba has a 15-minute mindset, which means that for residents and people visiting everything is available within 15 minutes of where they live, work and play.”

Learn more: A guide to 15-minute cities: why are they so controversial?

The Mukaab – the largest building in the world

At the centre of Saudi Arabia’s grand plans for New Murabba is the Mukaab – a 1,300ft tall cube inspired by the design of the Murabba Palace.

Once completed, the Mukaab will become the largest structure in the built environment, surpassing the enormous Boeing Everett Factory in Washington, USA and encompassing 2 million sq ft of floor space. It will be an immersive experience that plays host to a variety of commercial spaces, residential units and tourist attractions, and eventually house 400,000 people.