Saudi Arabia Resumes Work on the World’s Tallest Skyscraper After a Seven-Year Delay. We’ll See How Long It Lasts

Saudi Arabia is in a different class when it comes to mega-construction. The country is currently working on ambitious projects, such as the imposing Mukaab, the huge clock tower of Abraj Al Bait, and the ultimate urban planning endeavor: The Line.

Another notable project is the Jeddah Tower, also known as the Kingdom Tower. Similar to The Line, its construction has faced several setbacks. However, after two previous attempts to restart work, construction has now officially resumed on what will be the world’s tallest building.

The Kingdom Tower. This Saudi Arabian building aspires to surpass the 2,717-foot-high Burj Khalifa. To achieve this, the same architectural team responsible for the Dubai skyscraper is leading its design and construction. This tower will be the crown jewel of the Vision 2030 project and will serve as the centerpiece of a new city that will rise around it.

Although construction began more than a decade ago and progressed steadily at first, the initial timeline was overly ambitious. It was projected to be completed in 2018, but by that time, the tower was far from finished. The delays were primarily due to labor issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and notably, the corruption purge that took place in 2017.

The purge. In 2018, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman established an anti-corruption committee with a single goal: to centralize political power. He grew frustrated with several elites exerting influence in the country. As such, he created a system that resulted in more than 380 arrests, including businessmen, ministers, princes, and even members of his own family, such as his mother.

There were rumors of death squads targeting dissidents. Amid this purge aimed at curbing political corruption, extortion, and money laundering, work on the Jeddah Tower’s foundations and second floors was halted.

The project was initially slated for completion in 2018. The image compares the height of the building to other skyscrapers.

Third time’s the charm. At the end of 2023, developers invited local contractors to bid on the project’s completion. In October 2024, a video confirmed that work would resume, but the prospects remained uncertain until now.

Kingdom Holding Company, the organization behind the project, recently announced that construction has officially restarted. In a press release, the company indicated that it’s already started work on the 64th floor. Additionally, it said that it’s employing a cement application technique that will enable it to complete one floor every four days.

More than 3,280 feet. The tower is expected to have about 160 floors, but details are still unclear. Interestingly, developers haven’t established the exact number of floors and the tower’s height from the beginning. In its latest press release, the company mentioned that the tower will be more than 3,280 feet tall, although the exact height has yet to be determined.

An ambitious project. What’s certain is that the Jeddah Tower will be a luxurious building, serving as the centerpiece of a new city. The skyscraper will accommodate shops, offices, recreational spaces, and hotels, including the Four Seasons. It also aims to have the world’s tallest observation deck. The tower is expected to showcase a glass-covered design resembling an elongated pyramid with a three-edged base.

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The project will cover an area of 57 million square feet and include hospitals, schools, universities, shopping centers, residential spaces, and other tall towers. Government officials have said they’re open to any investment opportunity to support this ambitious project.

Investments are welcome. Financing is nearly complete. The Binladin Group, responsible for construction, is providing initial funding. This is supplemented by contributions from banks and other undisclosed financial sources, which will be revealed gradually.

Binladin Group enjoys strong government support and welcomes all types of investment. The tower is expected to significantly increase the value of the surrounding land–in the immediate 57 million square foot area and throughout the entire region.

This is the vision for development around the Jeddah Tower.

The tower is set to be completed by 2028 as part of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the country’s economy. However, plans are already underway for an even taller tower that will surpass Jeddah Tower. This new tower is envisioned to reach a height of 6,562 feet and will be located in Riyadh, near the prominent King Khalid International Airport.

Images | Adrian Smith + Gill Gordon Architecture | Jeddah Tower | Omarnizar05 | Google Earth

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