Saudi Arabia Pauses Construction Of Mukaab Landmark In Riyadh

Dubai (PlantAndEquipment.com) - Saudi Arabia has halted building of the Mukaab, a proposed cube-shaped monument in Riyadh's New Murabba area, while officials examine the project's finance and general viability, according to persons familiar with the subject.

The Mukaab was conceived as a 400-meter-by-400-meter structure with a large dome and an AI-powered display that would be seen from a more than 300-meter-high interior terraced structure. According to reports, work beyond soil excavation and piling has been halted, although development of neighboring real estate under the New Murabba project is scheduled to proceed.

The project is part of New Murabba, a large downtown development funded by the Public Investment Fund. Officials from the fund, the Saudi government, and New Murabba all declined to comment.