New Murabba Development: A Strategic Partnership for Smart Construction

New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), the PIF-owned firm behind Riyadh’s vast New Murabba project, has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Naver Cloud Corporation. This agreement aims to integrate advanced technologies such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, cloud platforms, and construction progress monitoring into the district’s delivery model.

Project Scale & Context

New Murabba is a 19 km² mixed-use “downtown” district in north-west Riyadh, part of Saudi Vision 2030. The development includes the 400 m-tall “Mukaab” cube, cultural venues, hotels, residences, schools, and a 45,000-seat stadium. Once completed, the project will deliver over 100,000 homes, 10,000 hotel rooms, and a minimum of 25 million m² of total floor area.

What the MoU Covers

NMDC and Naver Cloud will explore the deployment of:

• Smart city platforms for urban services and asset management.

• Robotics and automation in deployment and field operations.

• Autonomous vehicle systems for passenger and freight within the district.

• Digital construction monitoring, including real-time site tracking.

• Cloud-based infrastructure supporting district-wide data and analytics.

  
  

The MoU was signed in Seoul during NMDC’s “New Murabba Investment & Partnership Forum” by CEO Michael Dyke and Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yu-won.

Strategic Significance

Tech-First Infrastructure Delivery

Embedding digital control and data systems early in construction and asset management enhances efficiency, transparency, and resilience.

Global Tech Collaboration

Partnering with Naver positions Saudi Arabia alongside international peers in smart city planning.

ECI Potential

Smart construction oversight and monitoring tools could become part of the project's early contractor involvement (ECI) frameworks, improving project controls.

Key Stakeholders & Roles

| Organisation | Role |

|----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|

| NMDC | Urban master developer and client |

| Naver Cloud | Technology provider for smart city and monitoring tools |

| Potential Contractors | Developers like Bechtel, AtkinsRealis, CHEC – applying tech in delivery |

| Construction Partners | International and South-Korean firms (e.g., Hyundai E&C) exploring consortium involvement |

| Local Authorities & PIF | Overseeing integration of tech with urban regulations |

Risk & Delivery Challenges

Systems Integration

Aligning multiple platforms and ensuring networks don’t silo data requires a strong digital architecture and governance framework.

Security & Compliance

Smart city systems need to meet rigorous standards for data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital sovereignty.

Change Management

Institutionalising AI and automation within construction and operations demands training, buy-in, and cultural adaptation.

Scalability

Ensuring pilot systems can scale across a 19 km² district with complex use cases—residential, leisure, cultural, and transport.

Impact and Next Steps

Efficiency Gains

Digital monitoring can reduce rework, expedite decision-making, and improve delivery oversight.

Urban Resilience

Autonomous and robotics strategies enhance service reliability and reduce labour dependencies.

Investor Appeal

Positioning New Murabba as a tech-rich destination is likely to attract global developers and long-term tenants.

Next steps include joint pilot programmes, integration of digital tools into upcoming ECI tenders, and collaboration through Seoul forums to attract South Korean tech and construction partners to participate in New Murabba delivery.

In conclusion, the partnership between NMDC and Naver Cloud represents a significant step towards creating a smart, efficient, and resilient urban environment in Riyadh. By leveraging advanced technologies, we can ensure that the New Murabba project not only meets the demands of modern urban living but also sets a benchmark for future developments. The integration of these technologies will ultimately lead to smarter decisions and better outcomes for all stakeholders involved.