Začelo se je z gradnjo El Mukaab, največje stavbe na svetu, v katero bi lahko vstopila 20-krat večja zgradba Empire State.

Construction has begun on El Mukaab, the world's largest building, which would accommodate twenty times the volume of the Empire State Building. Located in the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, the project represents one of the most ambitious engineering feats of the 21st century. Designed to become the largest building in the world by volume, El Mukaab is a massive cube measuring 400 meters in height, width, and depth. The structure will serve as the centerpiece of New Murabba, an urban development aimed at reshaping the city’s skyline and economic landscape. The internal space is so vast that it could house up to twenty buildings of the size of the Empire State Building in New York, setting a new benchmark in large-scale architecture. The exterior design of the cube draws inspiration from traditional Najdi architecture, blending geometric patterns with futuristic technology. The project is spearheaded under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative, which seeks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and reduce its reliance on oil through the creation of a globally renowned tourist and commercial hub. According to data published by ArchDaily, the complex is not only focused on physical scale but also on enhancing user experience. Situated at the core of Riyadh’s new downtown, this monumental landmark combines retail, hospitality, and entertainment within New Murabba. The interior features a spiraling central tower and walls equipped with advanced holographic technology capable of projecting immersive scenes. As stated by Michael Dyke, CEO of New Murabba, the goal is to offer visitors unique experiences: “You can go to sleep in the Serengeti and wake up in New York.” The logistical challenges of such an unprecedented construction required extraordinary measures. To prepare the site, nearly ten million cubic meters of earth were moved, an amount equivalent to approximately 4,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. In order to avoid overburdening Riyadh’s existing road infrastructure, a temporary bridge was erected over King Khalid Highway, facilitating the continuous movement of heavy machinery. Despite the grand ambitions surrounding the project, the financial realities of megaprojects in Saudi Arabia have presented notable obstacles. While the original plan aimed to complete much of the infrastructure by 2030, reports indicate that construction on El Mukaab faced temporary suspensions early in 2026. This pause followed a strategic reassessment by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which opted to prioritize investments with shorter-term economic returns and urgent projects, including infrastructure for the 2030 Expo and the 2034 World Cup. From the developers' perspective, New Murabba continues to be viewed as a microcosm of a city, offering hotel services, office spaces, commercial areas, and more than 100,000 residential units. However, completion timelines have been adjusted due to fiscal pressures and the need to optimize resources. Recently, Saudi Minister of Economy Faisal al-Ibrahim acknowledged that the kingdom is willing to revise projects to ensure their viability, reflecting the complexity of managing such a profound economic transformation. The attractions are integrated into the master plan, providing experiences that celebrate heritage while fostering community connections. El Mukaab, envisioned as the pinnacle of modern luxury and technological innovation, symbolizes both the potential and limitations of a vision aiming to rewrite urban planning rules in the desert. As the world watches the evolution of this structure, Saudi authorities remain committed to continuing the development of the surrounding area, maintaining momentum in this transformative endeavor.