Saudi Arabia's Sky-High Ambitions: The Jeddah Tower Set to Dethrone the Burj Khalifa

• Financial

In the elite world of skyscrapers, where soaring heights define power and prosperity, Dubai's 828-meter Burj Khalifa has long been the shining jewel since its inception in 2010. Yet, a decade on, this iconic structure's unrivalled stature may soon be overshadowed by a new giant emerging from the sands of Saudi Arabia.

Jeddah Tower: Touching the Heavens

Construction work on the ambitious Jeddah Tower, set to surpass the Burj Khalifa by a staggering 172 meters, has resumed with renewed vigor. “The tower will be more than 1,000 metres tall, and it is back in full motion,” revealed an insider connected to the colossal project during a chat with MEED.

The developer's plan to finish this ground-breaking edifice is well underway, with a call for contractors to present their bids by the year's end. Confirming the tender's official launch, Kingdom Holding Company CEO Talal Ibrahim Almaiman told MEED, marking an exciting phase in this architectural marvel's journey.

More Than Just a Tower: Revitalizing Jeddah

However, the Jeddah Tower isn’t just an architectural statement of grandeur. It's the heart of a more expansive initiative – the "Jeddah Economic City" project. Intended to breathe new life into the city, the entire undertaking carries a whopping price tag of 20 billion dollars, with a mere fraction, 1.2 billion dollars, set aside for the tower itself.

The road to constructing the Jeddah Tower hasn't been without its hurdles. Launched in 2010, the venture hit a snag in 2017 when the original constructors, SBG company, stepped back. This setback necessitated the search for a new primary contractor, paving the way for a fresh perspective to realize the architectural designs of the esteemed "Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill" studio.

The Jeddah Tower, upon completion, is set to become a testament to Saudi Arabia's futuristic vision and its desire to be at the forefront of global architectural accomplishments. The world watches with bated breath, eager to see this modern-day Babel rise, casting a shadow on all that came before.