Is Jeddah Tower on course to become the world’s tallest building?

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower has reached 430 metres, marking a major construction milestone for the building planned to become the world’s tallest skyscraper.

The structure has now completed more than 40% of its planned height of over 1,000 metres, according to an update shared by Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal following a visit to the construction site.

Prince Alwaleed met the teams working on the project and inspected its progress, offering one of the clearest public indications that construction is continuing after years of delays.

“Praise be to God, work is continuing, and we will complete the world’s tallest tower,” he said.

Construction gathers pace after restart

Work on Jeddah Tower began in 2013 before being suspended in 2018 following financial and contractor-related challenges.

Construction resumed in 2025, with crews continuing to add floors to the landmark mixed-use development.

The latest update places the tower at 430 metres out of a planned height exceeding one kilometre. Once completed, it is expected to surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and become the first building in the world to cross the one-kilometre mark.

What will Jeddah Tower include?

The tower will feature residential properties, a luxury hotel, office space and one of the world’s highest observation decks.

Jeddah Tower will also form the centrepiece of Jeddah Economic City, a 57-million-square-foot development designed to support the kingdom’s ambitions in business and luxury tourism.

The project is being developed by Jeddah Economic Company, which is backed by Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Company.

Jeddah Economic Company is working with Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture, Thornton Tomasetti, Langan International and Saudi Binladin Group on the project.

Thornton Tomasetti is providing structural design services, while the wider project team also includes Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, RWDI and Dar.

Tower set to overtake Burj Khalifa

Jeddah Tower’s final height will exceed 1,000 metres, placing it above the 828-metre Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The latest construction milestone follows Prince Alwaleed’s site inspection, during which he said he had personally reviewed the progress made by the project teams.

Current estimates cited in the project updates point to completion around 2028, although the final timeline remains dependent on the pace of construction.