Dubai’s Burj Khalifa may not hold the title of the world’s tallest building for much longer, with work now moving ahead again on Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia.
The project originally got underway on April 1, 2013, but construction stalled in 2018 due to a combination of financial setbacks and contractor-related problems.
Activity resumed in January 2025, putting the giant skyscraper back on course to challenge – and eventually surpass – the current world record holder.
Once finished, Jeddah Tower is expected to become the first building in the world to reach one kilometre in height, or roughly 3,300 feet. That would make it roughly 173 metres, or 568 feet, taller than the Burj Khalifa.
As of June 2026, the structure has reached 430 metres in height, having passed the 100th floor milestone in April 2026, marking major progress in the build.
Its vast scale is said to make it difficult to capture in a single realistic visualisation.
“Only elevations and birds-eye views can contain the entire project.”
Anyone hoping to take in the scenery from near the top should eventually be able to do so from a viewing platform on the 157th floor, according to Thornton Tomasetti’s website. The observation deck will sit approximately 652 metres above ground, making it roughly 100 metres higher than the Burj Khalifa’s highest public viewing area.
“To seamlessly navigate this massive vertical span, state-of-the-art double-decker lifts will shuttle visitors and residents up to the observation deck at breathtaking speeds exceeding 10 meters (30 feet) per second.”
The same source says the development is also set to claim the title of the world’s highest observatory.
The tower has been designed to “redefine the global skyline” and the overall price tag is expected to reach about $1.2 billion.
As for when it may finally open, the current target is August 2028.
The completed tower is expected to be more than just an observation landmark, with plans for residential, hospitality and office space inside the building.
“[It will] offer a premium mix of luxury hospitality, serviced apartments, high-end condominiums, and prestigious office spaces,’ Thorton Tomasetti reveals. “More than just a standalone icon, the tower will serve as the commercial anchor for Kingdom City, a visionary $20-billion multi-use urban development.”
The team added: “Executing a project of this unprecedented scale required a sophisticated blend of cutting-edge innovation and human synergy.
“While advanced structural engineering software and digital integration were vital to defying extreme desert elements, technology was only half the equation. Ultimately, true catalyst for overcoming these immense logistical challenges was cross-disciplinary teamwork – the seamless collaboration between international architects, engineers, and construction specialists who breathed life into this vision.”
According to the project’s structural engineers at Thornton Tomasetti, construction is progressing at an aggressive pace, with crews adding approximately one new floor per week on the central core. The company has confirmed the tower is on track to reach 135 floors by the end of 2026, with the remaining work on upper floors, mechanical systems, facade cladding, and interior fit-out continuing through to the 2028 completion target.