A cube-shaped megastructure for Riyadh in Saudi Arabia sparks controversy in social media for its similarity to the 'Kaaba.'
On February 16th, Saudi Arabia lifted the curtain on the latest architectural design of a cubic-shaped megastructure, which received criticism for strikingly resembling Islam's most sacred site, the Kaaba.
A gateway to another world: #TheMukaab will be the world’s first immersive, experiential destination. Large enough to hold 20 Empire State Buildings, the global icon will feature innovative technologies to transport you to new worlds.#NewMurabbahttps://t.co/5R4DqQdPyS pic.twitter.com/vr9M8cTI1I
— Public Investment Fund (@PIF_en) February 16, 2023
According to the Saudi kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the construction of "The Mukaab" - derived from the Arabic word for the cube- will occur in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and is expected to be completed by the end of this decade.
The height, width, and length of this massive city-within-a-city will be 400 meters which is large enough to contain at least 20 Empire State Buildings. Providing over 100,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and 1.4 million square meters of office space, it will also be the home to many entertainment and culture venues.
Spearheaded by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, this project is one of the plans to create the biggest and most advanced downtown in the world in Riyadh.
Inspired by the styles used in the Najd region in Saudi Arabia for the design and architecture, the building features overlapping triangular forms. However, some social media users have pointed out that the design is far too similar to the Kabba.
The Kabba is a cube structure at the center of Islam's most important mosque, Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca. The Muslims consider it the House of God and the Qibla (direction of prayer) when performing Namaz.
One Twitter user named Kariman said, "This is a strange choice, or is it just me? The New Mukaab, like the Kaaba but with shopping venues...?"
This a strange choice or is it just me? The New Mukaab, like the Kabba but with shopping venues..? https://t.co/DCFfWOuYRQ
— Kariman Mango كريمان منكو (@KarimanMango) February 16, 2023
While another Twitter user Riyad Al-Otaibie wondered why the shape chosen was a cube of all things, he asked, "Does he want to create an entertainment Qibla [direction towards the Kaaba] to match the religious Qibla?"
The project is a part of the Vision 2030 blueprint, which aims to open Saudi Arabia to the world and broaden the kingdom's economy to not be dependent on oil export for revenue. It is expected to be completed by the time the Gulf Kingdom hosts Expo 2030.
The Mukaab is the most recent addition to the grandiose chain of upcoming ambitious architectural projects in the country. Two years ago, it revealed the plans to build "The Line," the world's first vertical city where over nine million people will live in the NEOM megacity in the near future.
The NEOM project has also received flak from rights groups after several tribes peoples who lived on the land reserved for the construction of the megacity were arrested for protesting against it.
