Construction resumes on the world's tallest tower in Jeddah

Everything you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s shiny new megaproject.

Saudi Arabia is filled with exciting megaprojects. The Kingdom is planning to build the world’s largest tower, Jeddah Tower. Reaching more than 1,000 metres in height, the project has resumed construction.  

Kingdom Holding, majority owned by Prince Alwaleed, said on Wednesday, 2 October 2024 that it will resume construction on the tower in Jeddah, more than a decade after the project was first announced.

Jeddah Tower aims to be 172 metres taller than Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which is currently the world’s tallest building and stands at 830 metres. The new structure will be the centrepiece of the Jeddah Economic City development. In its first phase of development, the site covers an area of 1.5 square kilometres.

Designed to imitate the contours of a sprouting desert plant, Jeddah Tower was the brainchild of American architect Adrian Smith. Upon completion, the project will include residential offerings ranging from one to six-bedroom units. The amenities will include shopping malls, boutique stalls, fine-dining restaurants, and sports facilities. Four Seasons Hotel, Jeddah Tower, will also be located inside the building. Plus, it will be home to the world’s highest observation deck. 

Kingdom Holding Company stated that construction will take 42 months to complete, and 63 of the 157 floors have already been built. When it reaches completion in 2028, the 1,000-meter-tall skyscraper in Jeddah will become the world’s tallest building.

Originally named ‘Kingdom Tower,’ the Jeddah Economic Company Tower has been designed with three bases, each rising in continuous slopes to varying heights. This innovative design helps distribute the building’s weight and enhances stability against wind forces.

Upon completion, the structure will join an elite group of “super skyscrapers”—buildings that reach heights of 600 meters or more. Currently, only four such buildings exist: the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, the Shanghai Tower in China, and the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, Sauda Arabia.

If you love megaprojects, check out all of the developments transforming Saudi Arabia. Thanks to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Saudi Vision 2030, the kingdom is home to some of the Middle East’s most impressive developments. The ever-expanding list includes Neom, Qiddiya, The Red Sea Project and more. 

Check in with FACT for more details. 

GO: Visit https://kingdom.com.sa for more information.