# Jeddah Tower surpasses Burj Khalifa

**Published:** 2026-08-06T14:22:43.636Z  
**Topic:** OVERTAKE  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/1ec230d8-62d4-4708-91ab-6d6db716b1f5

Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Tower reaches 108 floors, set to become world's tallest building at 1km high, with a $1.2bn price tag and double-decker elevators

The Jeddah Tower, previously known as the Kingdom Tower, has surpassed the Burj Khalifa's height of 828 meters, with the tower now standing at 108 floors [2]. This milestone marks a significant step towards the tower's planned height of over 1 kilometer, which will make it the world's tallest building, almost three times the height of the Empire State Building.

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Height | 1km (3,300ft) |
| Floors | 108 |
| Price | $1.2bn |
| Architect | Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill |

## The construction progress
The Jeddah Tower's construction began in 2013 but was paused in 2018 due to financial and contractor issues [3]. However, construction resumed in January last year, and the tower is now rapidly progressing towards its planned height [2]. The tower's design is based on a simple yet efficient concrete-based system, which employs local construction practices and concrete strengths common in the region [2]. The structural system is designed to be built quickly and efficiently, with all walls interconnected and each structural element resisting both wind and gravity loads.

## The competitive picture
The Jeddah Tower is set to redefine the global skyline, with its height surpassing that of the Burj Khalifa by 180 meters [3]. The tower will feature the world's highest observation point, a luxury hotel, office space, and palatial apartments [2]. The project is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to transform into a major tourism destination, with several "gigaprojects" announced in recent years [2]. However, while other projects have seen their ambitions reduced or cancelled, the Jeddah Tower is now firmly on track to become the world's tallest building.

## What to watch
* The tower's completion date, which is expected to be in the near future, although no specific date has been announced [2]
* The tower's final height, which is planned to be over 1 kilometer, making it the world's tallest building [2]
* The impact of the tower's completion on the local economy and tourism industry, which is expected to be significant [3]

The Jeddah Tower's completion will mark a significant milestone in the world of architecture and engineering, with the tower set to become a iconic landmark and a symbol of Saudi Arabia's ambitions [2]. As the tower nears completion, it will be interesting to see how it will affect the local economy and tourism industry, and whether it will live up to its expected potential.

## Sources
1. Wikipedia — [Empire State Building - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Building)
2. New Atlas — [World's new tallest building races toward completion in Saudi Arabia](https://newatlas.com/architecture/jec-tower-june-2026-update/)
3. Unilad — [New world's tallest building almost three Empire State Buildings high will 'redefine global skyline'](https://www.unilad.com/news/world-news/worlds-tallest-building-jeddah-tower-826294-20260803)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Jeddah Tower surpasses Burj Khalifa", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/1ec230d8-62d4-4708-91ab-6d6db716b1f5