The 7 Most Shocking Facts About Jeddah Tower's $1.92 Billion Construction Restart (Kingdom Tower Update 2025)

The dream of the world's first kilometer-high skyscraper is officially back on track. After years of dormancy, the colossal project formerly known as the Kingdom Tower, now the Jeddah Tower, has roared back to life with a massive injection of funds and a renewed commitment from the Saudi government to complete the iconic structure by the end of the decade. As of December 2025, the world is watching as the partially constructed megatall tower prepares to reclaim its destiny as the planet's tallest building, a monumental symbol of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

This ambitious undertaking, designed to surpass the Burj Khalifa, faced significant delays due to financial and political turmoil, including the 2017 anti-corruption purge. However, new contracts and a concrete timeline have been established, making the Jeddah Tower one of the most compelling and current stories in global architecture and engineering. The recent restart signifies not just a construction milestone, but a powerful statement about the future of the region.

The Jeddah Tower: Key Facts and Project Biography

The Jeddah Tower is a mixed-use skyscraper under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is the centerpiece of the Jeddah Economic City development and is set to become the first structure in history to reach a height of one kilometer (1,000 meters).

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• Official Name: Jeddah Tower (previously known as Kingdom Tower or Burj Jeddah).
• Location: Jeddah Economic City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Status: Under Construction (Construction officially resumed in late 2024/early 2025).
• Projected Height: Over 1,000 meters (1 km).
• Floors: Approximately 167 usable floors above ground, plus two basement levels.
• Function: Mixed-Use (Four Seasons Hotel, luxury residential apartments, office space, and the world's highest observatory).
• Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG). Adrian Smith also designed the Burj Khalifa.
• Developer: Jeddah Economic Company (JEC).
• Key Investor: Kingdom Holding Company.
• Original Contractor: Saudi Binladin Group (SBG).
• Estimated Project Cost: The total cost of the Jeddah Economic City project is estimated at $20 billion, with the tower itself costing approximately $1.2 billion (original estimate) to $26 billion (total economic city project cost).
• Current Completion Target: August 2028.
• Current Structure Status: The core structure had reached approximately 69-75 floors before the stall.

The Massive Restart: Why the Jeddah Tower is Back in the News

The Jeddah Tower had been stalled since 2018, its concrete core a silent monument to a paused ambition. The recent, definitive news of its restart has sent shockwaves through the construction world, confirming the project's renewed vitality and financial backing. This is not just a simple resumption of work; it is a major, high-stakes commitment.

1. The $1.92 Billion Contract and the Return of SBG

The most crucial and recent development is the awarding of a massive new contract to complete the tower. In late 2024, the Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), the original contractor, secured a new agreement worth $1.92 billion (7.2 billion riyal) to resume construction. This is a significant figure that underscores the scale of the remaining work and the financial confidence of the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC). The project is now on a fixed 42-month schedule, pushing towards the 2028 completion target.

2. The August 2028 Completion Deadline

The new, firm deadline for the Jeddah Tower’s completion is set for August 2028. This date is critical, as it aligns the tower's completion with the broader goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the country's economy and elevate its global standing. Meeting this deadline is paramount, turning the tower into a symbol of the Kingdom's modernizing future.

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3. The Race to 1,000 Meters: Surpassing the Burj Khalifa

The Jeddah Tower is engineered to be the world's first structure to break the one-kilometer height barrier. Upon completion, it will officially dethrone the 828-meter (2,717 ft) Burj Khalifa in Dubai as the world's tallest building. The sheer scale of this project requires unparalleled structural and material innovation, pushing the limits of modern engineering.

Architectural Marvels and Engineering Challenges

The Jeddah Tower is more than just a tall building; it is a masterclass in overcoming the immense challenges posed by gravity, wind, and the harsh desert environment. The design and structure are meticulously planned to ensure stability and functionality at extreme heights.

4. The Tapered, Y-Shaped Design

The tower’s distinctive Y-shaped triangular footprint is its primary structural innovation. This design, conceived by Adrian Smith of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), is not merely aesthetic. It serves a crucial engineering purpose: maximizing structural stability against high-altitude wind loads. The tapered form, which narrows as it rises, helps to "confuse the wind," preventing the formation of powerful vortexes that could cause dangerous swaying.

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5. The World's Highest Sky Terrace

One of the tower's most anticipated features is its enormous circular sky terrace, which juts out from one of the sides near the top. Originally intended to be a helipad, it will now serve as the world's highest observation deck, offering visitors breathtaking, unobstructed panoramic views of Jeddah and the Red Sea. This feature alone is a major draw for tourism and global attention.

6. Record-Breaking Elevator Systems

Moving people efficiently in a building this tall is a monumental task. The Jeddah Tower will feature some of the fastest and most sophisticated elevator systems ever created. These elevators, which include double-decker cabs, will travel at speeds of up to 10 meters per second, though they are slowed slightly to mitigate the nausea that can be associated with rapid vertical travel in megatall structures. The total number of elevators is expected to be around 59, ensuring smooth transit for the tower’s residents and guests across its 167 usable floors.

7. A Mixed-Use Vertical City

The final structure will be a self-contained vertical city. The lower floors will be dedicated to premium office space, followed by a luxurious Four Seasons Hotel with around 200 rooms. The middle and upper sections will house approximately 439 high-end residential apartments and condominiums, offering unparalleled luxury living with spectacular views. This blend of functions ensures the tower remains a vibrant, economically self-sustaining entity within the new Jeddah Economic City development.

The Future of the Global Skyline

The resumption of the Jeddah Tower project is a clear signal that the era of the megatall skyscraper is far from over. It represents a bold investment in the future, not just by the Kingdom Holding Company and the JEC, but by Saudi Arabia as a whole. The tower is intended to be a global icon, attracting international commerce, tourism, and talent to the region.

As construction progresses rapidly toward the 2028 completion date, the world will be watching every meter added to the core. The Jeddah Tower is set to redefine the global skyline and establish a new benchmark for super-tall architecture, cementing its place as an essential entity in the history of human engineering.