The New Murabba Seoul Forum, a two-day, invitation-only event, held to in Seoul, successfully introducing Saudi Arabia’s ambitious New Murabba project to a diverse audience of Korean and international partners. The forum underscored Saudi Arabia’s strategic focus on collaborating with South Korea to bring this monumental urban development to life.
New Murabba is set to be a transformative urban center in Riyadh, spanning an impressive 14–19 square kilometers. Designed as a 15-minute city, it prioritizes walkability and efficient commutes, ensuring all daily necessities are easily accessible. The project’s iconic centerpiece will be the Mukaab, a colossal 400-meter-tall, cube-shaped structure. Upon completion, the Mukaab will be one of the world’s largest built environments, integrating retail, residential, hospitality, and entertainment facilities within its groundbreaking design.
The forum, organized by the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), drew over 500 participants. Attendees included high-profile company executives, government officials, investors, developers, and technology providers, all eager to learn more about the project’s vast potential.
Saudi Arabia has identified South Korea as a pivotal partner for the New Murabba project, citing its advanced infrastructure, cutting-edge information technology capabilities, and a robust history of bilateral collaboration. Michael Dyke, CEO of NMDC, emphasized this synergy, stating, “Korea’s industrial, technological, and real estate expertise is crucial for the scale and ambition of New Murabba.”
A significant outcome of the forum was the signing of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NMDC and Naver Cloud, the cloud service arm of Korean tech giant Naver. This partnership is set to integrate advanced technologies such as robotics, autonomous mobility, digital construction monitoring, and cloud-based smart city platforms into the New Murabba project. Naver Cloud is expected to play a central role in developing the digital infrastructure that will underpin this futuristic smart city.
