What Is Jeddah Tower?

Jeddah Tower (formerly known as Kingdom Tower) is a supertall skyscraper under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, designed to be the world’s first building to exceed 1,000 metres in height. When completed, it will surpass the 828-metre Burj Khalifa in Dubai to become the tallest man-made structure in history. The tower is the centrepiece of Jeddah Economic City, a large-scale mixed-use development on the Red Sea coast north of central Jeddah.

Design and Specifications

Jeddah Tower was designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), the same firm behind the Burj Khalifa. Key design features include:

• Height: Over 1,000 metres (approximately 1,008 metres as designed)
• Floors: Over 150 occupied floors
• Shape: A triangular footprint that tapers and rotates as it rises, with three setbacks creating terraces. The design is both aesthetic and functional, reducing wind loads at height
• Sky Terrace: A large outdoor observation terrace at approximately 664 metres, offering views across the Red Sea
• Mixed-Use: The tower will contain a Four Seasons hotel, luxury residences, office space, and an observation deck
• Foundation: The tower’s foundation extends over 100 metres deep into the Red Sea coastal geology, one of the deepest foundations ever constructed

Jeddah Economic City

The tower anchors Jeddah Economic City (JEC), a USD 20 billion development spanning approximately 5.3 million square metres along the Red Sea coast. JEC is planned to include residential communities, office towers, retail, entertainment, and waterfront attractions. The development is managed by Jeddah Economic Company, with Kingdom Holding Company (controlled by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal) as the primary investor.

Construction History

Construction began in April 2013, and the project has experienced a complex timeline:

• 2013-2017: Foundation work and initial structural construction progressed. The tower reached approximately 250 metres (one-third of its ultimate height) and approximately 63 floors before work slowed.
• 2017-2020: Construction was suspended amid contractor disputes, the arrest of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal during the 2017 anti-corruption campaign, and funding challenges. The structural skeleton remained visible on the Jeddah skyline during this period.
• 2020-Present: Construction has been restarted following resolution of financing and contractor issues. New construction contracts have been awarded, and work has resumed on the superstructure.

Engineering Challenges

Building beyond 1,000 metres presents unprecedented engineering challenges:

• Wind Engineering: Wind loads increase dramatically with height, requiring extensive wind tunnel testing and aerodynamic design
• Concrete Technology: High-performance concrete must be pumped to extreme heights, requiring special formulations and pumping technology
• Elevator Systems: Traditional elevator technology is insufficient for 1,000-metre buildings, requiring innovative solutions including staged elevator systems
• Foundation Engineering: The Red Sea coastal geology required novel foundation approaches to support the tower’s massive loads

Economic Significance

Jeddah Tower serves as both a statement of architectural ambition and an economic catalyst for western Saudi Arabia. Its completion would provide Jeddah with a globally recognisable landmark, complementing the Kingdom’s other mega-projects in Riyadh, NEOM, and the Red Sea coast. The tower and surrounding JEC are expected to create thousands of jobs and attract tourism and commercial activity.

Investment Context

Jeddah Tower is primarily a private sector project, distinguishing it from PIF-backed mega-projects. Kingdom Holding Company remains the primary investor, though government support for infrastructure and regulatory facilitation has been important. The project’s completion would demonstrate the Saudi private sector’s capacity to deliver globally significant developments.

Current Status and Outlook

As of early 2026, construction activity has resumed with renewed momentum. While the project’s timeline has been extended significantly from original projections, the commitment to completion remains stated. The tower’s construction progress is closely watched by the global architectural and engineering community as a benchmark for supertall building technology.

Jeddah Tower is simultaneously a symbol of Saudi ambition, an engineering frontier, and a test of project resilience. Its eventual completion would cap a story of persistence as remarkable as the tower’s height.

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