Gulf Construction Online - New Murabba signs up Aecom for PMC services

Saudi Focus

AtkinsRéalis and NMDC officials sign the agreement.

New Murabba signs up Aecom for PMC services

01 January 2024

Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), a fully-owned subsidiary of Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund), has signed up Aecom, a leading infrastructure consulting firm, to provide project management consultancy services for all buildings across its 19 million-sq-m New Murabba masterplan.

NMDC had earlier signed up AtkinsRéalis to design the New Murabba masterplan. As per the deal, AtkinsRéalis will also be involved in shaping The Mukaab, an immersive destination aiming to redefine people’s encounters with hospitality, retail, and leisure.

The contract with Aecom, however, excludes The Mukaab.

Entrusting Aecom with this responsibility, along with recent PMC awards, secures the realisation of the ambitious vision for New Murabba and The Mukaab. It further aids in fostering the development of a contemporary downtown area aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision2030, said the company in a statement.

The agreement was signed by Engineer Sabah Barakat, the Acting CEO of New Murabba Development Company, and Hamed Zaghw, the CEO of Aecom MEA.

The New Murabba project, the world’s largest modern downtown coming up in Riyadh, covers an extensive range of asset classes, comprising residential, hospitality, leisure, retail, commercial, and community amenities.

Meanwhile, AtkinsRéalis, a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world, said its competition-winning masterplan was inspired by Najdi Architecture, with a focus on creating a futuristic landmark with deep contextual roots that blends Riyadh’s cultural heritage with its future ambitions.

The exterior envelopeof Mukaab, which means cube in Arabic, shrouds an internal skyscraper, which will be one of the largest built structures in the world’s history, standing 400 m high, 400 m wide, and 400 m long. The design of the Mukaab will also include first-of-its-kind hospitality, F&B and retail facilities.

AtkinsRéalis said it will provide its world class advisory, architecture, masterplanning and engineering services to deliver this groundbreaking project.