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groundbreaking, $50 billion project has begun in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aiming to create the world's largest building. Dubbed The Mukaab, this futuristic structure is part of a wave of ambitious construction across the Arab nation.

    The massive cube will stand at 1,300 feet high and 1,200 feet wide, boasting 2 million square feet of floor space, including fine dining, retail, offices, and restaurants. It will also feature 104,000 residential units and 9,000 hotel rooms, making it a self-contained downtown area.

    The Mukaab's design is inspired by local ecology and regional architecture, with winding pathways and smaller buildings evoking the likeness of desert streams. The square shape itself references Najdi architecture style, characterized by mudbrick buildings and centralized courtyards.

    The project aims to create 334,000 jobs and add over $51 billion to non-oil GDP. New Murabba Development Company expects it to be completed by 2030 using about 900 workers. The Mukaab is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's efforts to modernize the country through his "Saudi Vision 2030" project, which includes plans for a floating port city, a mountain tourism destination, and a futuristic city powered entirely by renewable energy.

    These projects are designed to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil revenue, diversify its economy, and build up public service sectors. The ambitious plans also include the concept of "THE LINE," a 105-mile-long building that will be home to 9 million people and run on renewable energy, with an estimated cost of $1 trillion.