A 400m-Sided Giant Cube... Saudi Arabia's Another 'Future City'

Announcement of the Mega Skyscraper 'Mukab' Plan
One Side Length 400m... Tens of Thousands Residents
Construction Cost Billions of Dollars... Growing Skepticism

The Saudi Arabian government, which is planning the ultra-large linear new city 'NEOM City' stretching 170 km in length, has unveiled another futuristic new city vision. This time, it is an enormous cubic building with each side measuring 400 meters. Inside, there will be residential areas, and the walls are planned to continuously display virtual reality images.

However, there is skepticism as it is not known how the development funds, amounting to tens of trillions of won, will be raised. Some argue that it is merely a marketing tool to suppress controversies surrounding the Saudi royal family, such as human rights issues.

Ultra-large Cubic Building 'Mukaab' Project Unveiled

The ultra-tall skyscraper 'New Mukabb' scheduled to be built in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia / Photo by Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund

On the 21st (local time), the US CNN reported that the Saudi government’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), unveiled a new residential concept called 'New Mukaab.'

The Mukaab is a cube-shaped building planned to be established in the bustling area of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Each side measures 400 meters, and inside there is a vast space that can accommodate the equivalent of 20 Empire State Buildings in New York.

The Mukaab project is actively promoted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto head of the PIF and a key figure in the Saudi royal family. According to the PIF, the building will have infrastructure to support tens of thousands of residents, and the walls will use 'holography' technology to continuously display virtual reality images 24 hours a day. The ultimate goal of the Mukaab project is to realize a true "immersive experience."

Saudi Civil Engineering Plans Resembling Science Fiction

The mega city project 'NEOM City' stretching 170 km / Photo by NEOM

The PIF estimates the completion of the Mukaab project by 2030. However, overseas skepticism is growing about whether the funds to complete such a project can be raised. According to CNN, the Saudi government’s planned investment in the capital alone already amounts to $800 billion (approximately 1,040 trillion won).

Crown Prince bin Salman’s ambition for futuristic new cities has already led to numerous mega civil engineering projects. All are part of the 'Vision 2030' plan, which aims to reduce oil dependency and diversify industries. A representative example is the linear city NEOM, which stretches nearly 170 km.

NEOM is also planned on an unprecedented scale like the Mukaab. The total project cost announced in 2017 is estimated at $500 billion (about 650 trillion won), with the first phase completion targeted for 2025 and final completion by 2030. The project’s core idea is to place two 500-meter-high linear buildings parallel to each other in the barren desert of northwestern Saudi Arabia to form a 'line.' The exterior walls of the buildings are entirely covered with glass to reflect the scorching desert sunlight.

Construction funds are expected to be covered half by the PIF, which manages assets worth $650 billion, and the other half through bond issuance and investment attraction via the IPO of the NEOM construction company. However, there has been ongoing controversy over whether the targeted investment amount can be achieved and whether the cash flow will remain uninterrupted until construction is completed. Amid this, the unveiling of another multi-billion-dollar project, the Mukaab, has only deepened skepticism.

Skepticism Over Mega Projects... Criticism of "Deception"

Some argue that the Saudi government’s civil engineering projects are closer to a deception to cover up domestic human rights abuses and media suppression controversies rather than an economic vision.

After the Mukaab project was unveiled, Dana Ahmed, a Gulf region researcher at the international human rights organization Amnesty, strongly criticized, saying, "Every time a more futuristic and bizarre project is unveiled, I cannot even imagine how much darker the surrounding (Saudi) environment around these structures will become."

Andre Krieg, a Middle East researcher at King’s College London, told CNN, "There was a time when negative controversies arose due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses," and added, "Currently, (Saudi Arabia) is trying to push a new narrative through futuristic urban development plans."