Saudi Arabia is accelerating construction on the monumental Jeddah Tower, poised to claim the title of world’s tallest building with an unprecedented kilometer-high design. After overcoming a seven-year construction hiatus, the project has dramatically progressed since resuming work in January 2025, currently reaching the 80-floor milestone with new floors emerging every three to four days.
Designed by the renowned architectural firm Adrian Smith + Gill Gordon Architecture, the tower represents a paradigm shift in supertall construction. When completed in August 2028, the structure will soar to approximately 3,281 feet (1,000 meters), surpassing Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by roughly 173 meters. The tower’s innovative Y-shaped structural core and three-petal aerodynamic footprint provide critical stability against wind forces and seismic activity.
The $1.2 billion megaproject will feature 168 floors containing luxury residences, corporate offices, premium hotel accommodations, retail spaces, and multiple observation decks. The crown jewel will be a sky terrace at level 157—a 30-meter diameter public observatory that will become the world’s highest viewing platform upon completion.
Engineering marvels include 59 ultra-high-speed elevators by Kone, with five double-decker units capable of traveling at 10 meters per second. This sophisticated vertical transportation system will serve as the backbone for the tower’s mixed-use functionality.
As the centerpiece of the Jeddah Economic City development, the tower symbolizes Saudi Arabia’s ambitious vision to transform its Red Sea coast into a global economic hub. Talal Ibrahim Al Maiman, CEO of Jeddah Economic Company, emphasized that the project serves as “a beacon of innovation and a catalyst for growth,” representing the realization of a vision years in the making.