Construction on the Jeddah Tower, poised to become the world’s tallest skyscraper, has resumed after a five-year hiatus. Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the project commenced in 2013 and is intended to surpass the Burj Khalifa in the UAE. Interestingly, Adrian Smith also designed the Burj Khalifa during his tenure at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The tower faced numerous delays, including a pause in 2018 and setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, a change in the initial contractor occurred during the 2017-2019 Saudi Arabian purge. The developer, Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), is currently soliciting new contractor proposals to complete the endeavor. Several international contractors have been invited to submit comprehensive proposals, including a precise project timeline, by the end of 2023. Before the construction break, approximately one-third of the tower had been completed, reaching level 50 out of 157, with foundational work and piling already finished.
Once finished, the skyscraper will stand at a remarkable height of 3,281 feet (1,000 meters), surpassing the iconic Burj Khalifa by 564 feet (172 meters). The tower’s design features a sleek, glass-clad exterior with a sloped façade inspired by the folded fronds of desert palm trees.
Designed as a mixed-use structure, the skyscraper will include the world’s tallest observation deck, a Four Seasons hotel, residential units, and offices. This project is part of a substantial urban revitalization effort in Jeddah’s city center. The tower’s design optimizes residential space with a “three-petal footprint,” creating an aerodynamic shape to reduce wind loading. Furthermore, the elevator system is expected to be one of the most advanced globally, traveling at speeds of 10 meters per second.
Saudi Arabia has been collaborating with international architects to shape its cities into symbols of future progress. In Jeddah, Heatherwick Studio recently revealed a project to transform an old desalination plant into a focal point of a new cultural district on the waterfront. This year, Jeddah hosted the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale, directed by architect Sumayya Vally, at the renowned Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz Airport, designed by SOM. In Riyadh, about 900 kilometers inland, the Saudi Arabian government unveiled the design for Mukaab, a cube-shaped supertall skyscraper set to anchor the New Murabba district in downtown Riyadh.
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