The largest building in the world is breaking ground in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Master plan for the upcoming Murabba City Center in Riyadh, a new development covering 7 square miles.

Photo: New Murabba Development Company

What is inside Mukaab?

Spanning more than two million square feet, the largest building in the world will house a range of retail, cultural and tourism attractions, as well as residential, hotel, commercial and leisure facilities.

These functions will be located at the four corners of the cubic-shaped skyscraper. At the center there will be an atrium with a 1,300-foot-tall domed structure and a spiral tower inside. Covered with projection curtains inside, it will come to life with immersive digital and holographic experiences like The Circle.

At the center of this cube-shaped skyscraper is a tall spiral staircase that forms a public and entertainment area.

Photo: New Murabba Development Company

When will Mukaab be completed?

Completion of the Mukaab skyscraper is scheduled for 2030. It is part of the wider Murabba district, the new center of Riyadh. The project will include more than 100,000 residential units and 9,000 hotel rooms, as well as more than 10 million square feet of retail and 15 million square feet of office space. According to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, chairman of the New Murabba Development Company, the new center of Riyadh will also feature a museum, a university of technology and design, as well as a variety of entertainment and cultural venues.

The construction comes amid other concerns surrounding Saudi Arabia’s proposed futuristic architectural designs. The line, for example, has faced setbacks: It was originally 93 miles long, but only a 1.4-mile section is expected to be completed by 2030. Mukaab, the kingdom’s high-profile projects financed by the Public Investment Fund, are part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Arab country as a destination for tourism, culture and innovation.