Jakarta, ThedailyID — Dubai’s Burj Khalifa currently holds the record as the world’s tallest building at 828 meters. However, Saudi Arabia is developing two ambitious skyscraper projects that could eventually take its crown.
The project closest to completion is Jeddah Economic Company Tower, widely known as Jeddah Tower. Located in Jeddah, the skyscraper aims to exceed 1,000 meters in height.
Jeddah Economic Company CEO Fabien Toscano announced the target during the Saudi Mega Projects 2026 forum. He said construction should finish by the end of 2028.
If the project meets its target, Jeddah Tower will surpass Burj Khalifa and claim the world’s tallest building record.
Jeddah Tower Construction Progress
Jeddah Tower has been in development for more than a decade. However, several challenges previously forced developers to suspend construction, according to Time Out Dubai.
Last year, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal announced the project’s revival through social media. He shared a rendering of the completed tower alongside the message, “We’re back.”
Construction has since made progress. Reports indicate that the tower has exceeded 474 meters, with workers completing an average of one floor every five days. Around 5,200 workers support the project.
Developers have also started installing the building’s glass facade. Beyond its record-breaking height, Jeddah Tower will serve as a mixed-use development.
Plans include luxury residences, commercial spaces, a Four Seasons hotel, and an observation deck. Visitors will eventually enjoy views of Jeddah and the Red Sea from the upper floors.
Architects have designed the project as a vertical city. Its facilities will integrate residential, commercial, and lifestyle needs, alongside internal transportation systems.
Edward McIntosh, regional design director at AtkinsRéalis Middle East & Africa, described the concept as a city built vertically. With a planned height exceeding one kilometer, Jeddah Tower could become a major milestone in skyscraper engineering.
Rise Tower: Saudi Arabia’s Proposed 2-Kilometer Skyscraper
Saudi Arabia has another ambitious skyscraper proposal: Rise Tower in Riyadh.
Global architecture firm HKS introduced its initial design in 2025. The proposal targets a height of two kilometers, nearly twice the planned height of Jeddah Tower.
If developers realize the project, Rise Tower would become the tallest building ever constructed. Its proposed 678 floors would accommodate luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, observation decks, and exclusive office spaces.
The tower also forms part of the proposed North Pole development, a future urban project covering approximately 306 square kilometers.
However, Rise Tower remains in its early stages. As of June 2026, the project was still undergoing planning and design.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which supports several large-scale national development projects, has also yet to include Rise Tower in its portfolio of giga-projects.
This makes Rise Tower’s future less certain than Jeddah Tower, where construction is already underway.
For now, Burj Khalifa retains its world record. However, if Jeddah Tower meets its construction target, Saudi Arabia could take the title by the end of 2028.
