On Saudi Arabia and Its ‘Cube’ Controversies

In the age of digital narratives and global interconnectedness, the lens through which we view representation has become sharper, but also more distorted. Recent projects in Saudi Arabia, particularly the cube-shaped architectural structures, have sparked a firestorm of accusations that claim that they’re mimicking the holy Kaaba, especially during its Riyadh Festival 2024. Each time a cube emerges in the Kingdom, critics are ever so quick to draw parallels to our Islamic sacred structure, as if it’s part of an ulterior plan aimed to elicit some sort of religious symbolism.

The relentless backlash on Saudi Arabia and the continuous labeling of every geometric design as an affront to Islam is yet another glaring example of “Saudiphobia.” And it begs the question: Why does the world feel the need to paint everything from the Kingdom with the same brush?

Saudi Arabia is reshaping its future in cities that are not Mecca or Medina. Vision 2030 is not just about diversifying the economy; it’s about reimagining a nation that’s long been stereotyped. The cube shape is a modern architectural form—nothing more, nothing less. It’s efficient, it’s minimal, and it’s a tribute to the geometric patterns often found in traditional Arab art. But some outside the Kingdom and the Middle East are so determined to frame every structure as a “threat” to Islam that they fail to see the bigger picture.

These critics ignore the broader context: Saudi Arabia has been home to groundbreaking projects and innovations for decades. The cube-like shapes we see emerging in projects like the Mukaab and Maraya are no statements on the Kaaba, just as the Pyramids of Egypt are no reflection of the Torah. Simply put, just because two things seem related doesn’t mean they’re connected or have anything to do with each other—this, of course, applies to whatever happened during the 2024 festival.

The irony here is that we, as Muslims, should be the ones to push back against this narrative. Why are we so quick to see an insult where none exists? The same people who accuse Saudi Arabia of “capitalizing” on religious symbols are the ones who fail to acknowledge how often our faith, culture, and customs have been misrepresented for centuries.

From the media to politics, the Middle Eastern Muslim world is constantly bombarded with inaccurate depictions, and yet here we are, creating controversies out of thin air.

A quick Google search is all it takes to discover that the highly controversial Mukaab is part of a much larger initiative called “New Murabba,” which, by the way, means “square” in Arabic. For those unfamiliar with some of the underpinnings of the term, “Murabba” can be used to describe residential areas in some Arab regions. And let’s not forget that a cube is simply a three-dimensional version of a square. So, if Saudi Arabia decides to use certain geometric shapes in their designs to create some sort of harmony, it’s really none of our business. If that cube block were to be constructed in Abu Dhabi, nobody would have attacked it.

Insisting on viewing Saudi Arabia through the lens of perfection—expecting them to be saints walking on earth—is, at its core, a logical fallacy. Saudi Arabia is an Arab nation, like any other in the Middle East. And while it’s upon us to hold them accountable for the sacred duty of respecting the two cities that matter to us most, our expectations should not extend to every other aspect related to the nation’s governance or development.

The reality is that not every cube is the Kaaba, just as not every mosque is Al Masjid Al Aqsa. It’s even more ironic that we then wonder why some non-Muslims think that every religious building with a dome is a potential national security threat. It’s exactly the same mindset of fear.

From where is this fragility coming from? Are we going to perform a pilgrimage to every cube-shaped building we see? Of course not! The Kaaba’s sanctity doesn’t emanate from its cube-like shape; it’s sacred because Allah willed it to be so. Had He (SWT) desired, it could have been round or hexagonal.

Geometric shapes per se are not sacred. Hold onto your faith, focus on your own actions, and seek forgiveness for your own sins—that is how we thrive individually and collectively as Muslims.

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