New Murabba is a large-scale urban transformation project planned in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, as part of the country's "Vision 2030" strategy. Announced in 2023 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the project is designed in line with the national goal of economic diversification. Spanning an area of approximately 19 km², it aims to integrate residential, commercial, cultural, and entertainment functions within a construction capacity of 25 million m². The project will include 100,000 housing units, hotels, retail zones, and publicly accessible social facilities. At the center of the development stands the Mukaab, an iconic architectural structure symbolically associated with the project, notable for its monumental scale and advanced technological infrastructure.

^{New Murabba-Vision 2030 (Source: New Murabba)}

Urban Design Approaches in the New Murabba Project

New Murabba is described as being based on human-centered design principles. It has been developed according to the 15-minute city model, which promotes a compact layout enabling access to essential services within a short walking distance. Twenty-five percent of the area is allocated to green space, supported by integrated parks, open areas, and ecological corridors. Environmental sustainability elements such as water management, waste recycling, energy efficiency, and carbon emission reduction are central to the project. Planned innovations include fully electric public transportation, the exclusive use of treated wastewater for irrigation, and the separation of 90% of waste at the source.

^{Yeni Murabba (2030 Vision) Source: New Murabba}

Economic Contribution and Strategic Objectives

The New Murabba Project is envisioned to have impact not only at the urban level but also on economic and cultural scales. Supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the project is expected to contribute 180 billion riyals (approximately 48 billion USD) to the country’s non-oil gross domestic product (GDP) upon completion. Moreover, it aims to create approximately 334,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. The area will host a university focused on technology and design, a museum, interactive theater halls, and over 80 cultural and social facilities. In this way, New Murabba is defined as a new urban subdistrict intended to play a central role in Riyadh’s economic, cultural, and digital development.