The Spiral Tower stands at the architectural and experiential heart of The Mukaab — a near full-height structure rising through the cube’s interior atrium, composed of stacked organic forms perched on a spiral base. This central landmark serves as The Mukaab’s interior icon, performing multiple roles simultaneously: structural anchor for the building’s internal floor area, mixed-use vertical destination housing retail, cultural, tourism, commercial, and residential attractions, and primary canvas for the holographic dome’s projected environments.
Design and Form
The Spiral Tower’s design language — “stacked organic forms” on a “spiral base” — distinguishes it sharply from conventional tower architecture. Rather than the rectilinear efficiency of standard skyscraper design, the tower employs biomorphic geometry that creates visual interest from every viewing angle within the atrium. The spiral form generates a continuous ascending pathway — conceptually similar to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum rotunda in New York, but scaled to a near-400-meter height within a 400-meter cube.
AtkinsRealis, the lead architect, developed the Spiral Tower design as an integral element of The Mukaab’s interior composition. The tower is not a freestanding structure in the conventional sense — it exists within the protective shell of the cube, meaning it faces none of the wind loading, seismic isolation, or foundation challenges that constrain freestanding supertall buildings. This structural freedom enables the organic, non-rectilinear geometry that would be impractical or impossible in an exposed tower.
The “advanced technological cladding” encasing the tower transforms its surface into a programmable display medium. Visitors within the atrium — whether in surrounding retail areas, hotel rooms, or public spaces — would see the Spiral Tower’s surface change in coordination with the dome’s projected environments. When the dome projects a Martian landscape, the tower’s cladding could display corresponding textures and colors, creating a unified visual experience from ground to sky.
Mixed-Use Programming
The Spiral Tower houses what New Murabba describes as “retail, cultural, tourism, commercial, and opulent residential attractions” — concentrating premium functions in the building’s most iconic structure. The vertical mixed-use model places different program categories at different elevations, creating a journey of ascending experiences:
Lower Levels (Ground to ~100m): Retail and visitor attractions at levels accessible from the atrium ground floor and lower terraces. The High Street retail zone likely integrates with or connects to the tower’s base, channeling foot traffic through premium shopping experiences.
Mid Levels (~100-250m): Cultural and entertainment venues including gallery spaces, dining with panoramic atrium views, and potentially connection points to Falcon’s Creative Group attractions. The mid-level position provides dramatic views of the dome’s projected environments above and the atrium activity below.
Upper Levels (~250-380m): Residential units and the luxury hotel — positions that maximize the immersive dome experience. Residents and hotel guests at these elevations would be surrounded by the dome’s holographic projections, experiencing the “wake up in the Serengeti” scenario described by CEO Michael Dyke. The premium positioning justifies the highest pricing in the development.
Summit (~380-400m): Potential observation or special event spaces at the tower’s apex, positioned near the top of the dome. These would command the most dramatic views of the entire interior and could serve as ultra-premium dining, event, or attraction spaces.
Structural Engineering
Building a spiral structure of near-400-meter height within an enclosed cube presents unique structural engineering challenges. The tower’s vertical loads must transfer to the building’s foundation system — which also supports the cube’s 400-meter exterior walls and the dome structure. The atrium’s open volume means the tower receives no lateral bracing from the cube shell, requiring a self-supporting structural system.
The organic form factor complicates structural analysis compared to rectilinear towers where loading is relatively predictable. Asymmetric mass distribution from the stacked organic forms creates variable wind loading patterns (though attenuated within the enclosed cube), asymmetric gravitational loads, and construction challenges related to forming complex curved concrete or steel members.
The Jacobs-AECOM joint venture providing design services for The Mukaab has not publicly disclosed the Spiral Tower’s structural system. Possible approaches include a central core with cantilevered floor plates (standard for supertall buildings, adapted for spiral geometry), an exoskeleton structure where the tower’s surface cladding contributes structural capacity, or a hybrid system combining core stability with surface-integrated structural elements.
Engineering feasibility concerns have been raised by independent experts. Some analysts have warned that a structure of The Mukaab’s overall dimensions “would collapse under its own weight,” though these concerns appear directed at the cube shell rather than the interior tower specifically. Within the cube’s protected environment, the Spiral Tower’s structural challenge is significant but within proven engineering parameters — many existing supertall buildings exceed 400 meters in height, and the tower benefits from protection from wind and weather.
Experience Design
The Spiral Tower is designed to be experienced, not merely observed. Its spiral form suggests a continuous visitor pathway ascending through the structure — escalators, elevators, and potentially moving walkways carrying visitors through themed zones that change with elevation. This “vertical journey” concept positions the tower as an attraction in its own right, separate from but integrated with the Falcon’s Creative Group experiences and venue programming.
The tower’s cladding — described as “advanced technological cladding” — creates an exterior surface that participates in the immersive experience. Visitors in the atrium see the tower as a dynamic visual element within the dome’s projected environment, while visitors inside the tower look outward through the cladding at the surrounding dome projections. This inside-out relationship creates a layered experience where the boundary between architecture and entertainment dissolves.
The tower’s residential and hotel components add a dimension absent from any existing entertainment attraction: habitation within a continuously changing immersive environment. The multi-sensory systems — light, sound, and atmospheric control — create living environments that evolve throughout the day, transforming the domestic experience from a static backdrop into an active sensory experience.
Economic Role
The Spiral Tower concentrates The Mukaab’s highest-value real estate in the most visually prominent location. Premium residential units with direct dome views, luxury hotel suites at altitude, and retail positioned at the convergence of foot traffic all command pricing premiums that reflect the tower’s iconic status.
In real estate economics, iconic towers within mixed-use developments consistently outperform non-iconic buildings. The Burj Khalifa’s residential pricing exceeds surrounding Downtown Dubai properties by 30-50%. The Spiral Tower’s unique position — inside the world’s largest immersive dome, with constantly changing projected environments — creates a value proposition without direct market comparison.
The economic impact dashboard tracks the Spiral Tower’s implied value within the broader New Murabba economic model. The tower’s contribution to the SAR 180 billion GDP target extends through residential sales, hotel operations, commercial leases, retail revenue, and the tourism spending it attracts as a destination landmark.
For updates on the Spiral Tower’s design development, structural progress, and programming announcements, see our construction tracker and technology readiness dashboard.
Market Context and Commercial Viability
The Saudi entertainment market — valued at $2.98 billion in 2026 and growing at 12.4% CAGR toward $5.36 billion by 2031 according to Mordor Intelligence — provides the demand backdrop for this component of The Mukaab’s integrated entertainment ecosystem. The broader market context from IMARC Group estimates the Saudi entertainment and amusement market at $5,468.4 million in 2025, projecting growth to $11,542.2 million by 2034. Both estimates confirm sustained market expansion driven by Saudi Arabia’s demographic tailwinds (60% of the population under 35), government entertainment infrastructure investment (SAR 50 billion between 2024-2025), and the social liberalization that has normalized entertainment spending since the General Entertainment Authority’s establishment in 2016.
Riyadh’s 52.10% share of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment market concentrates demand in The Mukaab’s home city. The capital’s 8+ million metropolitan population, growing domestic tourism (17% year-over-year growth in summer 2025), and the Vision 2030 target of 150 million annual visitors by 2030 create a substantial addressable audience. The mixed reality and VR arcade segment growing at 18.5% CAGR and premium experiences growing at 20.1% CAGR align with The Mukaab’s immersive technology proposition.
Integration Within The Mukaab Ecosystem
Within The Mukaab’s 80+ entertainment and cultural venues, each component operates as part of an integrated ecosystem rather than as an independent destination. Visitors arriving for one venue discover adjacent venues through natural foot traffic patterns, spatial computing recommendations on personal devices, and the visual connectivity created by the holographic dome environment that links all interior spaces under a unified atmospheric experience.
This integration creates cross-venue revenue multipliers. Visitors attracted by one venue spend additional time and money at adjacent dining establishments within the High Street retail zone, attend evening performances at the concert hall or Broadway District, and potentially extend their visit through accommodation at the 500-room luxury hotel. The Mukaab’s design encourages extended dwell time through comfortable climate-controlled environments, varied entertainment programming across multiple venues, and the ambient entertainment of the holographic dome overhead — conditions that maximize per-visitor spending across the ecosystem.
Vision 2030 Alignment and Economic Contribution
This component contributes to New Murabba’s projected SAR 180 billion non-oil GDP contribution and 334,000 job creation target. Employment spans operational staff, technical specialists, creative professionals, management, and support functions — positions that advance Vision 2030’s workforce development objectives by creating entertainment sector careers for Saudi Arabia’s young population. The $50 billion total investment in New Murabba, backed by PIF’s sovereign capital, provides the financial depth to sustain development through the phased timeline extending to 2040.
The alignment with Expo 2030 Riyadh provides a high-profile launch platform — international visitors during the exposition experience this component as part of The Mukaab’s opening program. The subsequent FIFA World Cup 2034 provides a secondary demand catalyst that sustains investment momentum through Phase 2 development.
Construction and Delivery Timeline
Physical delivery follows The Mukaab’s phased construction timeline: Phase 1 targeting 2030 (aligned with Expo Riyadh), Phase 2 targeting 2034 (aligned with FIFA World Cup), and Phase 3 completing full development by 2040. The January 2026 construction suspension introduces near-term uncertainty, but over 14 million cubic meters of earth have been excavated and the Falcon’s Creative Group partnership signed in August 2025 demonstrates continued entertainment development commitment.
The construction progress tracker monitors physical development milestones. The technology readiness dashboard assesses the maturity of technology systems that this component depends upon. The economic impact dashboard tracks revenue and employment projections as operational data becomes available.
The Spiral Tower’s position as a mixed-use structure within The Mukaab creates a vertical city within a city — residential, commercial, retail, cultural, and tourism functions stacked along the spiraling form. The tower’s advanced technological cladding enables dynamic projections and holographic displays visible from interior apartments and public spaces, creating a second immersive display surface within the cube complementing the holographic dome. Residents and hotel guests occupying Spiral Tower space experience The Mukaab’s immersive environment from an elevated perspective unavailable at ground level — looking across the dome’s projected environments from above rather than beneath, a spatial experience unique in entertainment architecture. The tower’s organic, spiraling form — contrasting with the cube’s geometric exterior — creates visual dynamism within the interior that prevents the space from feeling static despite its enclosed nature. The interplay between the rigid cube exterior and the organic tower interior reflects The Mukaab’s broader design philosophy: traditional geometric references on the outside, futuristic organic forms on the inside.
The tower’s mixed-use program distributes multiple functions along its vertical axis. Retail and cultural venues occupy lower levels where visitor density is highest. Commercial and hospitality functions occupy middle levels with premium views across the dome interior. Residential units at upper levels provide the most exclusive living environments — apartments with panoramic views of the holographic dome’s projected environments from above, a residential experience available nowhere else on Earth. This vertical stratification of uses creates a self-contained vertical community within the broader New Murabba district — residents can live, work, shop, and access entertainment without leaving the Spiral Tower and its immediate connections to The Mukaab’s venue network. The tower’s capacity to house a significant portion of The Mukaab’s interior functions makes it architecturally central to the project’s success — it is not merely a decorative landmark but a functional core that organizes interior space, distributes visitor flow, and provides the vertical transportation (elevators, escalators) connecting the cube’s multiple levels.