Jeddah Tower Revives To Become World’s Tallest Skyscraper By 2028

There’s something cinematic about a skyscraper rising back from the dead and that’s precisely the ambition behind Jeddah Tower. Dubbed the world’s next great vertical icon, the kilometer-high marvel is back in full swing in Saudi Arabia, its construction having resumed in early 2025 after a long hiatus.

When finished, it will rewrite the record books and quite possibly, the skyline. Originally launched more than a decade ago, the project had stalled around 2018 due to a mix of political shakeups and financial roadblocks. Despite having completed about a third of the structure by then, the work came to an abrupt halt. But now, with leadership renewed and purpose restored, the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC) has got the gears turning again. In January 2025, concrete pouring officially resumed.

A Tower That Dreams Big — Really Big

At its heart, Jeddah Tower isn’t just a building, it’s a statement. Standing at more than 1,000 metres, it is being built to surpass the Burj Khalifa by some 172 meters. Meed+2Agbi+2 Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, the same duo behind some of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers, the tower takes inspiration from palm fronds, a nod to the Saudi desert while its sleek, tapered form helps manage wind loads and make structural sense.

A Project Steeped in Vision

Jeddah Tower sits at the core of a larger, $20 billion masterplan: Jeddah Economic City. Spread over a waterfront plot, the development aims to be more than just a vertical spectacle. The tower will house a Four Seasons hotel, branded apartments, premium offices, and what’s anticipated to be the world’s highest observation deck. This is not vanity architecture. It’s part of Saudi Arabia’s broader plan to diversify its economy, attract global capital, and build its future under the banner of Vision 2030.

Engineering Playbook: Ambition Meets Precision

Building a structure over a kilometer tall is no easy feat. To manage the job, JEC has appointed Turner, a U.S.-based contractor with deep experience including the Burj Khalifa. ctbuh.org The tower’s foundation is equally ambitious: 270 bored piles are being embedded deeply into bedrock, engineered to handle corrosive sea air and stabilize the enormity above.

Inside, the vertical transport system is supremely sophisticated: 59 elevators will serve the building, including fast double-deck units and multiple sky lobbies to make elevator transfers smoother.

This complexity is carefully designed to handle the flow of guests, residents, and visitors to the tower’s mixed-use components. Since construction resumed, pace has picked up. Initially, 63 of the tower’s planned 157 floors were complete. Now, recent reports suggest that more than 70 floors are rising steadily.

A new crane was installed to speed up core construction, signaling serious intent to reach the finish line. Wikipedia The timeline under discussion points to an estimated completion by 2028, making it one of the most eagerly watched megaprojects in the world today.

Power, Prestige, Purpose

When complete, Jeddah Tower will be more than a marvel of height; it will be a mixed-use vertical city. A luxury hotel, workplaces, branded residences, and sky-high views are all part of the play. It’s designed to be a fully functioning piece of the urban fabric, not just an observatory or photo op. The tower also reflects how Saudi Arabia sees its future: not just as a global energy exporter, but as a destination for business, creativity, and architectural ambition. The new construction momentum is a sign that this vision is alive and backed by serious money (with the project’s cost estimated at around $26 billion).

Challenges in the Shadows

Of course, the path hasn’t been smooth. Political purge, funding stoppages, and the global pandemic all contributed to long delays. But the renewed march toward 1,000 meters shows a determination that many assumed was lost. There are still formidable engineering challenges ahead — high-altitude MEP systems, extreme wind pressures, and the sheer logistics of building up so high — but the team seems ready.

Skyscrapers are more than just tall buildings. They are symbols of ambition, capability, and intent. Jeddah Tower, if completed on schedule, could become a global icon, a flagship for Saudi Arabia’s economic and urban transformation. For JEC, Kingdom Holding, and Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal (who sits at the helm of the project), it’s not just a project, it’s a legacy.

Above all, this kilometer-high tower stands as proof that vision without action doesn’t have to be permanent. After years on hold, Jeddah Tower is rising again and with every new floor, it is rewriting dreams in concrete, glass, and steel.