Saudi Arabia Pauses Mukaab Project in Vision 2030 Review

Saudi Arabia has suspended construction on the Mukaab, a massive cube-shaped structure planned for downtown Riyadh, as part of a broader reassessment of flagship megaprojects under the kingdom's Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. The pause, announced this week, reflects mounting financial pressures amid low oil prices and aims to redirect resources toward more feasible initiatives.

The Mukaab, envisioned as a 400-meter-per-side metal cube capable of housing the equivalent of 20 Empire State Buildings, was intended as the centerpiece of the New Murabba development. Officials halted work beyond initial soil excavation and pilings while evaluating the project's financing and viability, according to sources familiar with the matter. The surrounding New Murabba area, which includes plans for 104,000 residential units, will continue development, though the overall completion timeline has shifted from 2030 to 2040. The project, estimated to cost around 50 billion dollars, faced early criticism for its architectural resemblance to the Kaaba in Mecca, though designers described it as inspired by traditional Najd region structures and the historic Murabba Palace.