Saudi Arabia breaks ground on $50B Mukaab, the ‘world’s largest building’ — which could hold 20 Empire State Buildings

It’s an out-of-the-box undertaking.

Ground has officially been broken in Saudi Arabia for what is expected to be the “world’s largest building.”

The ambitious, $50 billion project — called the Mukaab — in the capital city, Riyadh, is part of a wave of futuristic construction across the Arab nation, the Sun reported.

(A rendering of the massive Mukaab, which will cost $50 billion to construct.flickr/Salman Al-Mazini)

The skyline-redefining Mukaab will clock in at 1,300 feet high and 1,200 feet wide when completed — giving it enough volume to contain 20 Empire State Buildings, the outlet reported.

Offering fine dining, retail space, offices and restaurants, the massive cube will be its own downtown-in-a-box with 2 million square feet of floor space.

Many will also call the cube home — as it will feature 104,000 residential units and 9,000 hotel rooms.

The builder boasts that the Mukaab will be “human-first” and that green spaces will be accessible within 15 minutes of any location in the cube.

The New Murabba Development Company also boasts that it will use artificial intelligence to create immersive experiences for Mukaab visitors. That includes gigantic screens that will cover the outside of the square — in the style of the Las Vegas Sphere.

Though the project is meant to move Saudi Arabia toward a more modern future, the company said it is deriving design inspiration from the local ecology and regional architecture.

(A rendering of the Mukaab as it displays images to a new world on the massive screens that will cover its facade.Public Investment Fund)

The square design itself is considered a reference to the regional Najdi architecture style. Nadji is characterized by mudbrick buildings, triangular or rectangular window and door openings and centralized outdoor courtyards.

The Mukaab is expected to add over $51 billion to non-oil GDP and create 334,000 jobs.

New Murabba Development Company says the project will use about 900 workers and will be completed by 2030.

The new project is one facet of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s attempts to modernize the country.

His “Saudi Vision 2030” project aims to reduce the nation’s dependence on oil revenue, diversify the economy, and build up public service sectors.

(A rendering of the Mukaab in downtown Riyadh, which is part of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s comprehensive “Saudi Vision 2030.”flickr/Salman Al-Mazini)

Ref: Saudi Arabia breaks ground on $50B Mukaab, the ‘world’s largest building’ — which could hold 20 Empire State Buildings (nypost) Photo Credit- flickr/ Salman Al-Mazini, Public Investment Fund