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Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)-backed New Murabba Development Company (NMDC) has issued a notice to contractors inviting them to prequalify for a contract to build the Mukaab, a centrepiece of the New Murabba development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The prequalification notice was issued in January and the last date for submission is 14 February.

The Mukaab will encompass a tower with an internal diameter of 330 metres on top of a spiral base, four towers at each corner of the cube, a structural dome supporting the roof and a three-level basement.

Outside the Mukaab building are four quadrants incorporating the low-rise wadi podiums and associated infrastructure works.

The Mukaab structure and the surrounding podium areas, referred to as the Mukaab District, feature about 1.7 million square metres of floor space designated for hospitality. There will be commercial spaces and cultural and tourist attractions, along with residential and hotel units and recreational facilities.

The Najdi-inspired landmark will be one of the largest buildings in the world at 400 metres high, 400 metres wide and 400 metres long.

In December, MEED reported that NMDC had signed major agreements with international firms for consultancy and related services for the New Murabba downtown development project.

NMDC appointed Canada-headquartered AtkinsRealis to design the New Murabba masterplan, which includes the cube-shaped Mukaab building. 

The client also signed an agreement with US-based engineering consultancy Aecom to provide project management services for all buildings at New Murabba except the Mukaab.

NMDC appointed Turner Arabia to provide project management consultancy services for the Mukaab in September.

In August, US-based Bechtel and NMDC signed an agreement covering the project management services for the New Murabba masterplan and site-wide infrastructure.

Early works contracts

In September, NMDC appointed China Harbour Engineering Company for the first phase of construction of the Mukaab. The first phase includes excavation, backfilling and ground improvement for the Mukaab structure and surrounding areas.

The same month, NMDC awarded a contract to set up the temporary site offices at the New Murabba site to the local contractor Saudi Real Estate Infrastructure Company (Binyah).

NMDC also awarded two contracts for some of the early works packages at the New Murabba in July.

The contract awards include a site clearance package awarded to local contractor Al Ostool Al Aali, and a fencing, hoarding and finishing works package awarded to Binyah.

Downtown development

Overall, the New Murabba development will total more than 25 million square metres of floor area and feature more than 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms and over 980,000 sq m of retail space.

The scheme will include 1.4 million sq m of office space, 620,000 sq m of leisure facilities and 1.8 million square metres of space dedicated to community facilities.

The new project will be developed around the concept of sustainability and include green areas and walking and cycling paths to promote healthy, active lifestyles and community activities.

The living, working and entertainment facilities will be created around a 15-minute walking radius. The area will use an internal transport system and will be about a 20-minute drive from the airport.

The downtown area will feature a museum, a technology and design university, an immersive, multipurpose theatre, and more than 80 entertainment and cultural venues.

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud launched NMDC in February last year to develop the project.