8 SHOCKING FACTS: Jeddah Tower’s 1KM Ambition And The Latest 2025 Construction Status

The Jeddah Tower, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious bid to claim the title of the world's tallest building, is officially back in the race, with a dramatic construction restart that has captivated the global engineering and architecture communities. As of late December 2025, the megatall skyscraper—formerly known as the Kingdom Tower—is rapidly ascending, having broken through the 80-floor mark and signaling a renewed commitment to the Saudi Vision 2030 megaprojects. This monumental structure, planned to pierce the sky at over 1,000 meters, is no longer a paused dream but an active construction site, poised to dethrone Dubai’s Burj Khalifa within the next few years.

This article dives deep into the current status, the controversial halt, the massive scale, and the architectural genius behind the project that is set to redefine the Jeddah skyline and become the centerpiece of the sprawling Jeddah Economic City development. The tower’s resurgence is a powerful statement about the Kingdom Holding Company's (KHC) resolve to complete the first-ever 1-kilometer-tall building, a feat of engineering that will solidify Saudi Arabia's place in the pantheon of global architectural giants.

The Jeddah Tower: Project Profile and Key Entities

The Jeddah Tower is more than just a skyscraper; it is the anchor of the 5.2 million square meter Jeddah Economic City (JEC) development, a project designed to transform the region's economic and business landscape. Its history is marked by ambition, a sudden halt, and a recent, powerful revival. Understanding the key players and specifications is essential to grasping the sheer scale of this undertaking.

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• Official Name: Jeddah Tower (Previously: Kingdom Tower)
• Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Part of Jeddah Economic City)
• Planned Height: Over 1,000 meters (1 Kilometer)
• Architectural Firm: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), based in Chicago.
• Lead Architect: Adrian Smith (Also the architect for the Burj Khalifa while at SOM).
• Developer/Owner: Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), a subsidiary of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC).
• Estimated Cost: Approximately $1.2 billion USD.
• Total Floors (Planned): 157 to 167 above ground.
• Primary Function: Mixed-Use (Luxury Hotel, Office Space, Serviced Apartments, Luxury Condominiums).
• Signature Feature: The world's highest observation deck.
• Construction Restart Date: January 2025.
• Projected Completion: As early as 2028.

Latest Construction Status: December 2025 Breakthrough

The most compelling news surrounding the Jeddah Tower is its dramatic return to active construction. For over five years, the massive concrete core sat dormant, a silent testament to geopolitical and economic challenges. However, the project is now surging forward with unprecedented speed, driven by the Kingdom’s national development strategy, Saudi Vision 2030.

The 80-Floor Milestone:

As of late December 2025, the construction has reportedly reached or surpassed the 80-floor mark. This progress is significant, as the tower had previously stalled at around the 63-floor level since early 2018. The renewed pace, with a reported rate of roughly one floor per week, demonstrates the developer's commitment to meeting the ambitious 2028 completion target.

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The restart in January 2025 marked the end of a long period of inactivity that began following the 2017 anti-corruption purge in Saudi Arabia. The arrest of Bakr bin Laden, then-chairman of the primary contractor, the Saudi Binladin Group, led to a complete cessation of work. The developer, JEC, has since restructured the contracting process, bringing in new international and local firms to accelerate the build.

The current height, while still short of the final 1,000+ meters, has already made the Jeddah Tower a "supertall" structure, standing at over 250 meters. The journey from this point to the projected 135 floors by the end of 2026 will be the most challenging and visible phase of the tower’s ascent, as it enters the realm of "megatall" skyscrapers.

The Architectural and Engineering Marvels of a 1KM Structure

To build a structure that is 173 meters taller than the Burj Khalifa requires revolutionary engineering and a design that can withstand immense wind loads, seismic activity, and the unique challenges of the coastal environment near the Red Sea. The design, penned by Adrian Smith, utilizes a sophisticated, three-sided (tripartite) structure that is both functional and symbolic.

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The "Three-Petaled" Design:

The tripartite design is engineered to taper as it rises, which is crucial for mitigating the effects of wind turbulence. Wind forces are a primary concern for megatall buildings, and the tower's subtly asymmetrical shape ensures that the wind loads are constantly changing, preventing the building from vibrating or oscillating at dangerous frequencies. Smith describes the design as both highly technological and distinctly organic, evoking a bundle of leaves shooting up from the ground.

The World’s Highest Features:

The tower is set to include the highest observatories in the world, offering unparalleled views of Jeddah and the Red Sea. A key feature is a massive, circular sky terrace, originally intended to be a private helipad for the owner. This circular platform, jutting out dramatically from the main structure, will now serve as a public observation deck, providing a truly dizzying experience.

Furthermore, the logistical challenge of moving people within a 1-kilometer building is immense. The tower will utilize KONE-developed elevators, including double-deck elevators and some of the world's fastest, traveling at speeds of up to 10 meters per second, to transport occupants to the highest floors efficiently.

Jeddah Tower and the Saudi Vision 2030

The completion of the Jeddah Tower is intrinsically linked to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious national transformation plan, Saudi Vision 2030. This initiative, championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to diversify the country's economy away from oil, focusing on tourism, technology, and real estate development. The tower is not just a commercial project; it is a national symbol.

As the centerpiece of the Jeddah Economic City, the tower is designed to be a catalyst for further development, attracting international businesses, luxury tourism, and high-net-worth residents. The entire JEC project, with its mix of residential, commercial, and tourist attractions, is intended to create a new, vibrant economic hub on the western coast of the Kingdom.

The 2028 completion target, while ambitious, places the tower’s opening right in the heart of the Vision 2030 timeline. Its success is seen as a crucial indicator of Saudi Arabia's capacity to execute complex, large-scale infrastructure projects, demonstrating to the world the nation's commitment to its future economic goals and its architectural dominance on the global stage.