World’s biggest building kicks off $75 billion construction

In the Saudi capital of Riyadh, construction is underway for the biggest building on Earth. 

When completed, the building – called The Mukaab – will be big enough to fit 20 Empire State Buildings. 

The massive cube-shaped structure stretches almost 400 metres in each direction: length, width, and height. 

Inside the walls will lie an entire private city, with a hospital, retail outlets, hotels, and restaurants. 

The heart of the building is a giant domed atrium that encloses a residential skyscraper. The walls of the dome will be covered in holographic projections that can make residents feel like they are anywhere in the world – or even somewhere out of this world. 

Jurassic landscapes filled with flying dinosaurs, red-dust Martian plains, and underwater worlds are just some of the holographic backdrops revealed by the New Murabba Development Company in promotional videos. 

And the futuristic elements don’t stop there – the building will also boast racetracks for flying cars. 

The Mukaab is scheduled to be completed in 2030, and will cost around $AU75 billion. The firm behind the project is the New Murabba Development Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund. 

However, the building has been a source of controversy after some commentators pointed out its likeness to the Kaaba in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site. 

Recently, Saudi Arabia has also faced criticism for labour conditions after an ITV documentary alleged that construction workers were working over 60 hours per week.