Saudi Arabia’s ambitious New Murabba project remains firmly under way, with developers confirming a phased rollout that will see its first modest components delivered around 2029–2030, followed by successive residential and retail districts in the following decade.
At MIPIM 2026 in Cannes, it was confirmed that the project’s centrepiece, the monumental The Mukaab, is scheduled for completion by 2038.
Delivering an update on progress, New Murabba CEO Michael Dyke emphasised that while the project is vast in scale, construction and investment packages are already moving forward through what he described as “strategic phasing.”
“This is more than just a plan on the page,” Dyke said. “Our master plan execution has already started.”
Groundworks, excavation and early development activity are already under way in the north-western part of Riyadh, where the new district is being built.
Building Riyadh’s future downtown
Positioned in the northwest of Riyadh, New Murabba forms a key part of the transformation envisioned under Saudi Vision 2030.
Dyke explained that the project aims to reshape the urban structure of Riyadh itself. “Our vision is driven by our chairman and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The long-term ambition is for Riyadh to become one of the top ten city economies in the world and also one of the most liveable cities.”
The project is designed to introduce a new urban model to the Saudi capital, dramatically increasing density and creating a true downtown environment.
“Riyadh today is a city of over eight million people, but it is quite dispersed,” Dyke said. “The average density today is about 6,000 people per square kilometre. At New Murabba we will increase that to about 23,000 people per square kilometre.”
According to Dyke, that increase in density will help create the urban energy typical of major global centres. “That density creates urbanism, it creates energy, and it creates the kind of downtown environment people expect in cities around the world.”
One of the largest downtown developments ever planned
The scale of New Murabba places it among the largest urban developments currently being built anywhere in the world.
More than 1,900 buildings are planned across the district over the next 15 years, ultimately accommodating around 280,000 residents.
The development is also expected to attract approximately 100 million visits annually once fully operational.
Dyke offered a comparison to illustrate its size. “If you take the downtown of Manhattan, the downtown of Paris and the downtown of London and add them together, that’s a little bit bigger than New Murabba.”
At the centre of the development will stand the Mukaab, a monumental cube-shaped structure rising roughly 400 metres above ground. “New Murabba is anchored by the Mukaab, which will be the largest structure on the planet.”
Beneath and around the structure will be an extensive network of interconnected spaces linking multiple layers of retail, hospitality and cultural venues.
A “15-minute city” designed from scratch
One of the key planning principles behind the development is the concept of the 15-minute city, designed to ensure that most daily needs can be reached within a short walk.
Dyke explained that the master plan takes the idea even further.“ The philosophy is about getting to everything you need to live, work and play within a 15-minute walk of your home.”
In fact, the project’s planners expect the majority of daily needs to be even closer: “In our master plan about 90% of those things can actually be achieved within five to ten minutes.”
Unlike older global cities constrained by historic street patterns, New Murabba has been designed entirely from scratch. “We are very fortunate because we are not constrained by structures or typologies of the past. We have literally had the ability to define and design a place that is born smart.”
The development will integrate digital infrastructure from the outset, including AI-driven systems and a “super app” designed to manage mobility and services across the district.
Green space and quality of life
Urban livability is another key component of the master plan.
Approximately 25% of the development area — around three square kilometres — will be dedicated to green space, equivalent to roughly twice the size of Central Park in New York. But unlike traditional city parks located in a single area, the green spaces will be distributed throughout the district.
“Instead of having to walk 30 blocks to get to a park, it’s everywhere,” Dyke said. “You are living, working and playing in a park.”
A traffic-free 11-kilometre loop surrounding the development will provide pedestrian and cycling access across the district.
Residential core with hotels, offices and retail
Despite its iconic landmarks, New Murabba will primarily function as a residential district supporting Riyadh’s growing population. “More than 70% of our master plan is residential,” Dyke explained.
The development will also include:
- Around 10,000 hotel rooms
- More than 700,000 square metres of office space
- Extensive retail districts
- Education and healthcare infrastructure
- Cultural venues and museums
The master plan is organised into nine districts and 14 communities, each linked by public spaces and anchor attractions.
Strategic phasing begins with first communities
Construction will be delivered through carefully planned phases, beginning in the northern part of the site. “We have taken a very conscious decision to start in the north,” Dyke said.
Two initial communities — referred to internally as Core Downtown North — are already being prepared, with homes for the first community of about 23,000 people over the next five to seven years. Several early investment packages have already been committed, including key social infrastructure projects designed to integrate the new district with surrounding neighbourhoods.
One example is a new hospital development connected to the nearby Al Malqa district, boasting 300-plus-beds, with a GFA of about 82,000 square metres – scheduled for completion by 2030.
Another early project is a large international school designed to serve more than 2,000 students.
Investment opportunities accelerating
Developers are also bringing multiple investment packages to market as construction gathers pace.
Dyke confirmed that 20 development packages are scheduled for release during 2026 alone. “The first two of those packages are already fully committed,” he said.
Two additional packages currently on the market include:
- 800 residential units and 300 hospitality rooms
- A larger package featuring around 2,000 residential units, villas and mixed-use commercial space
The next sixteen packages will be coming to market progressively over the remainder of the year. Overall, the development could ultimately involve around 100 separate investment packages.
A long-term platform for investment
For Dyke, one of the project’s greatest advantages is its integration with the existing city: “We are part of Riyadh. We’re not remote from Riyadh and we’re not in the middle of nowhere.”
Instead, the project is intended to extend the urban fabric of the Saudi capital while introducing a new generation of architecture and infrastructure: “We believe we are creating a blueprint for modern living.”
The project’s planners also emphasise sustainability and environmental governance, aligning the development with United Nations sustainability goals.
Dyke concluded by emphasising the project’s long-term importance: “We believe we’ve created a fantastic long-term platform for investment, partnership and growth.”
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