The new square project in Saudi Arabia is causing widespread controversy
A promotional advertisement for a Saudi project in Riyadh, called “The New Square”, angered many of the pioneers of social networking sites in the Kingdom.
As a result, tweeters launched a scathing attack on the Saudi government and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. What is the story of this project? Why did he raise all this controversy?
The New Square project
The controversy began after Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, announced the launch of the “New Square” project, which also chairs the board of directors of the company developing it, with the aim of developing the largest modern “Downtown” in the city of Riyadh.
According to a tweet by the official Saudi Press Agency, “The project will depend in its designs on the application of sustainability standards. The project also includes an innovative museum, a university specializing in technology and design, an integrated multi-use theater, and more than 80 areas for live performances and entertainment.”
According to the announcement, “The project is located at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid Roads in northwest Riyadh, on an area of more than 19 square kilometers and a floor area of more than 25 million square meters.”
According to the announcement, “its capacity exceeds hundreds of thousands of residents, as the project will provide 104,000 housing units, 9,000 hospitality units, and commercial spaces extending to more than 980,000 square meters, in addition to 1.4 million square meters of office space, in addition to about 620 One thousand square meters for entertainment facilities, and about 1.8 million square meters for community facilities.
The Saudi Press Agency said, “The external interface of the cube is inspired by the modern Najd character in its design, and will constitute a creative technical display board, while the interior of the cube will present a new experience through digital and virtual technologies.”
The new square project is expected to be completed in 2030.
Its design mimics the shape of the Kaaba.
As soon as the project was announced, angry tweets poured in about the similarity of the project’s design to the shape of the Kaaba, and angry tweeters said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “is seeking to build a new Kaaba,” as they described it.
Critics focused on simulating the design of the project to the shape of the Kaaba located in Mecca, where Muslims perform Hajj and Umrah.
Tweeters denounced that the design of the project is in the shape of the cube in particular, and not other designs.
Journalist Turki Shalhoub compared the building built by Abraha al-Habashi centuries ago to the cube of Bin Salman, as he put it.
Some wondered why the project simulated the Holy Kaaba in particular?
Tweeters also saw that the design, if it was in another form, would have been better.
Some accused the project designers of wanting to divert attention from the positive energy rising from the Kaaba.
Defenders of the project
On the other hand, tweeters described the criticism of the project as “unfounded” and that it “aims to distort the development that Saudi Arabia is witnessing at the present time.”
They noted that “the idea of a cubic building is not restricted to a particular religion”.
Abdullah Al-Bandar described the link between the project’s design and the Kaaba as “extremist thought that has nothing to do with reality.”
Bader Asaker, director of the Crown Prince’s Office, confirmed that the project will become “one of the largest landmarks in the world.”
Saudi Vision 2030
- The new square project comes within the framework of the Saudi Vision 2030, as Saudi Arabia is launching many projects under that vision.
- Prince Muhammad bin Salman announced the Saudi Vision 2016, which is an ambitious plan that includes broad reforms aimed at transforming the Kingdom into a global investment power and ending Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil as a main engine of the economy.
- The vision includes increasing the capital of the Public Investment Fund to seven trillion riyals ($2 trillion) and offering less than five percent of the shares of oil giant Saudi Aramco.
- It also includes changes that help women play a greater economic role and allow foreign expatriates to stay longer in the kingdom through a program similar to the US green card system.
