Ahmed pulls his taxi to the side of the dusty highway, about 20 kilometers north of Jeddah, and points through the windshield. “You see that?” he asks, squinting against the desert glare. What catches your eye first isn’t impressive—just concrete and steel poking up from the sand like a half-finished thought. But Ahmed remembers when construction crews first broke ground here over a decade ago, back when everyone was calling it impossible.
“My cousin worked on those early floors,” he says, lighting a cigarette. “Then everything stopped. Money problems, they said. We thought it was dead.” He takes a long drag and grins. “Now look. They’re back.”
What Ahmed is pointing at will soon dwarf every skyscraper on Earth. The Saudi Arabia skyscraper project, officially called Jeddah Tower, is about to restart construction with one audacious goal: becoming the world’s first building to pierce the 1,000-meter mark.
The race to touch the sky just got serious
Right now, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa sits pretty at 828 meters, holding the crown as the world’s tallest building. Shanghai Tower in China comes second at 632 meters. These towers have felt untouchable for years, like monuments to human engineering limits.
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But Saudi Arabia never planned to play it safe. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program—designed to transform the country’s economy beyond oil dependency—sees mega-projects like Jeddah Tower as essential symbols of progress and stability.
“This isn’t just about breaking records,” explains Dr. Sarah Mitchell, an urban planning specialist who has studied Middle Eastern development projects. “Saudi Arabia is using architecture to signal a fundamental shift in how the world should view the Kingdom.”
The numbers are staggering. When complete, this Saudi Arabia skyscraper will rise exactly 1,000 meters into the sky—roughly 200 meters taller than Burj Khalifa. That’s like stacking three Eiffel Towers on top of each other.
What makes a kilometer-tall building possible
Engineering a 1km skyscraper requires solving problems that didn’t exist when shorter buildings were designed. The technical challenges include wind resistance, elevator systems, structural materials, and even how to pump water to the top floors.
Here are the key specifications and features planned for Jeddah Tower:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Height | 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) |
| Number of Floors | Over 200 |
| Elevators | 59 high-speed elevators |
| Mixed Use | Offices, hotels, residences, retail |
| Sky Terraces | Multiple observation decks |
| Construction Timeline | Expected completion by 2028-2030 |
The building’s design features a unique three-sided structure that tapers as it rises, helping it handle the intense wind forces at extreme heights. Advanced materials like high-strength concrete and steel composites will be essential for supporting the immense weight.
“The engineering challenges are immense, but not insurmountable,” notes structural engineer James Richardson. “We’re essentially building a vertical city that needs to function safely at altitudes where commercial aircraft fly.”
Key technological innovations include:
- Super high-speed elevators traveling up to 10 meters per second
- Advanced wind-resistant exterior design
- Pressurized zones to maintain comfortable conditions at high altitude
- Multi-level sky lobbies to manage vertical transportation
- Integrated renewable energy systems including wind and solar power
Why this matters beyond bragging rights
The Saudi Arabia skyscraper represents more than architectural ambition. It’s a cornerstone of Jeddah Economic City, a massive urban development designed to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and establish Saudi Arabia as a business hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The economic impact extends far beyond the building itself. Construction will require thousands of workers, from specialized engineers to local laborers. Once operational, the tower will house major corporations, luxury hotels, high-end residences, and tourist attractions that could draw millions of visitors annually.
“This project signals Saudi Arabia’s commitment to diversifying its economy,” explains Middle East economic analyst Dr. Hassan Al-Rashid. “It’s not just a building—it’s a statement that the Kingdom is open for business in sectors beyond oil and gas.”
The tower will also feature the world’s highest observation deck, positioned at around 900 meters above ground. On clear days, visitors will theoretically be able to see across the Red Sea toward Egypt and Sudan.
Tourism officials estimate the building could attract over 2 million international visitors per year, similar to the traffic generated by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. The economic ripple effects could support entire sectors of Saudi Arabia’s developing tourism industry.
The comeback story that shocked the construction world
Jeddah Tower’s journey hasn’t been smooth. Construction began in 2013 but stalled in 2018 due to financial complications involving the original developer. The partially completed structure sat abandoned for years, becoming a symbol of stalled ambitions.
Everything changed in 2023 when the Saudi government took direct control of the project. New funding was secured, updated engineering plans were approved, and international contractors began submitting bids for the remaining construction phases.
The restart signals broader changes in how Saudi Arabia approaches mega-projects. Rather than relying entirely on private developers, the Kingdom now takes a more hands-on role in ensuring critical infrastructure projects reach completion.
“The government learned valuable lessons from the initial delays,” observes construction industry analyst Maria Santos. “This time, they’re managing the project with the urgency and resources that a flagship development deserves.”
Current progress includes reinforcing the existing 250-meter concrete core, updating safety systems to meet modern standards, and preparing the site for the massive construction effort required to reach 1,000 meters.
Back on the highway outside Jeddah, Ahmed starts his taxi and pulls back onto the road. The concrete stub in his rearview mirror doesn’t look like much yet. But in a few years, that same view might include the world’s tallest building stretching toward the clouds—a Saudi Arabia skyscraper that rewrote the rules of what’s possible in modern architecture.
FAQs
When will the Saudi Arabia skyscraper be completed?
Construction is expected to finish between 2028 and 2030, depending on weather conditions and construction progress.
How much taller will it be than Burj Khalifa?
Jeddah Tower will stand at 1,000 meters, making it approximately 172 meters taller than Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.
What will be inside the building?
The tower will feature offices, luxury hotels, residential apartments, retail spaces, restaurants, and observation decks spread across more than 200 floors.
How much is the project expected to cost?
Total construction costs are estimated at over $2 billion, making it one of the most expensive single buildings ever constructed.
Will it be safe at that height?
The building is designed with advanced safety systems, including multiple evacuation routes, fire suppression systems, and structural engineering specifically designed for extreme heights.
Can tourists visit the top floors?
Yes, the tower will feature public observation decks and tourist facilities, likely positioned around the 900-meter level with panoramic views of the Red Sea region.