Quick glance:
- Saudi Arabia is planning to construct a cube-like building in the center of its capital city, Riyadh.
- This new construction site has been criticized by the Muslim world.
- Muslims accused Prince Mohammed bin Salman of creating a replica of the Kaaba.
Nowadays, ‘New Kaaba’ is in news. Saudi Arabia is constructing a new building called Mukaab in order to shift its focus to infrastructure and tourism. Not only Saudi Arabia, but other countries are also focusing on architecture and building constructions as they largely contribute to the economy. The high tech buildings are the center of attraction of tourists all over the world. The United Arab Emirates Burj Khalifa is the best example of it.
Saudi Arabia’s economy is largely dominated by the exports of the oil sector. We all know that Saudi Arabia is finding an alternative to diversifying its economy from the oil industry.
In this regard, Saudi’s crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman announced the establishment of the new city, The Line, in 2021. The Line city will be a 170 km long strip and it will have zero carbon emissions. The line is also called the NEOM Project.
Similarly, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince announced the New Kabba, that is, Mukaab, which is to be built under the New Murabba Project of Saudi Arabia. The objective of this New Murabba Project is the modernization of Saudi Arabia. It is estimated that its construction will be completed by 2030.
Mukaab will be one of the largest single-built structures in the world, with more than 2 million square meters of floor space. The word Mukaab in Arabic stands for cube.
But this project is facing a backlash from the Muslim community, not only within Saudi Arabia but also from all over the world.
Where is Saudi Arabia located?
Saudi Arabia is a country in Middle East Asia. It is a peninsula located between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. This country shares its boundary with Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar. It is famously known for the presence of holiest sites of Muslim Community- Mecca and Medina. The majority of Saudi Arabia is covered by the desert approximately 90%.
The majority of the population of Saudi Arabia is Sunni Muslim, which is about 85%, while 15% of the population of this country is Shia Muslim, which is about 15%.
Where is New Kaaba located?
The new Kaaba will be developed in the capital city of Saudi, i.e. Riyadh. It is to be completed by 2030. The New Murabba project will add $47 billion to the non-oil GDP of Saudi Arabia. It is 20 minutes drive away from the Riyadh Airport.
This project will be completed by the New Murabba Development Company, whose president is Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman himself.
It is expected that it will create more than 3 lakh jobs. The New Murabba is a part of the Umbrella project NEOM (The Line).
The NEOM project was started to shift the economy from oil to the architectural industry.It was launched in the year 2017 by crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman.
Why Muslims are against this project?
In the center of the city a new building will be created called the ‘Mukaab‘. This building is large enough to hold 20 Empire State buildings. It will include a high technological museum, university, and multipurpose theater. It is inspired by Najdi architecture. It is 400 meters high, wide, and long. It is spread over a 19 square kilometer area. Th Mukaab will have-
- The Mukaab will have a 25 million square kilometer floor area.
- 9000 hotel rooms
- 104000 residential units
- 1.4 million square meters of office space
- It is 20 minutes drive away from the Riyadh Airport
- This Mukaab is also called the gateway to a new world.
The shape of the Mukaab will be a cube. Muslim community criticized that Saudi Arabia is trying to establish a replica of the Kaaba. They saying it New Kaaba.
Kaaba –
The Kaaba is the most sacred site for the Muslims located in the Masjid Al Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims once in their life want to undertake the annual pilgrimage to Kaaba. This annual pilgrimage is called Hajj. Muslims offer their prayers in the direction where Kaaba is situated.
However, some people are in favor of this project by saying that there are many cube shaped buildings which exist in Saudi Arabia.
Why Saudi is choosing a new vision?
Saudi Arabia gets 80% income from the oil sector. Saudi Arabia is the second largest oil reserve country after Venezuela. Mohammad Bin Salman launched Vision 2030 for Saudi Arabia.
Vision 2030 has the following objectives to be achieved
- A diversified private sector led economy
- A vibrant society
- A sustainable future.
- Invite more investments
It is found in a study that by 2040 the demand for oil will decrease as countries will largely depend on solar energy.
Also, it is expected that the oil will be finished in Saudi Arabia in the next 60 years.
So Saudi Arabia is finding an alternative source of income and that is the architect sector and tourism.
Why Saudi is choosing a new vision?
Saudi Arabia gets 80% income from the oil sector. Saudi Arabia is the second largest oil reserve country after Venezuela. It is found in a study that by 2040 the demand for oil will decrease as countries will largely depend on solar energy. Also, it is expected that the oil will be finished in Saudi Arabia in the next 60 years. So Saudi Arabia is finding an alternative source of income and that is the architect sector.
Where is New Kaaba located?
The new Kaaba will be developed in the capital city of Saudi, i.e. Riyadh. It is to be completed by 2030.
What is Saudi Arabia Project Mukaab?
The Saudi Arabia Project Mukaab will be developed in the capital city of Saudi, i.e. Riyadh. It is to be completed by 2030. The New Murabba project will add $47 billion to the non-oil GDP of Saudi Arabia. It is 20 minutes drive away from the Riyadh Airport.
