Shifting Burj Khalifa, Jeddah Tower Ready To Become The Highest Building In The World

Jeddah Tower (Photo: People)

JAKARTA - The construction of buildings that are predicted to be the highest in the world is now continuing rapidly. The building is Jeddah Tower located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and is planned to have an end height of more than 3,280 feet or about 1 kilometer. When completed, the tower will shift the record for Burj Khalifa in Dubai as the world's tallest building.

Located on the banks of the Red Sea, Jeddah Tower will become the center of the Jeddah Economic City area, a development project worth US$20 billion or Rp332 trillion previously known as Kingdom City.

This magnificent building will accommodate various functions, ranging from housing, offices, business centers, luxury hotels, to the highest observation deck in the world.

The project was worked on by well-known architect Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill of Chicago-based US +GG Architecture firm, United States. One of the firm's partners, Robert Forest, tolduankerk that his team is targeting completion of construction in August 2028.

According to the architects, the number of floors and heights will certainly be announced after the project is complete, but it is confirmed that it is more than 130 floors.

"Construction activities are now increasing, and the atmosphere at the location is very excited. The entire team is committed to realizing this iconic structure for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Forest said, quoted from the People page.

The construction of Jeddah Tower actually started in 2013, but was stopped in 2018 due to the arrest of a number of important figures in the wave of Saudi reforms between 2017 and 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic then increased the delay in this project.

But good news came in September 2023, when Dezeen reported that the rebuilding was resumed. According to a Newsweek report in August 2025, construction has reached Core Level 69, while the tower wing lags about 5'10 floors behind the main core.

With a height that will surpass Burj Khalifa about 564 feet, Jeddah Tower is designed with a slim neo-futuristic style resembling a pointed tower (spire). Architect Smith and Gill explained that the shape of this tower was inspired by palm tree leaves, a distinctive symbol commonly found in Saudi Arabia.

They also added that the design is a combination of natural growth and technological advances.

"The geometry of this tower starts from a single tripod-shaped base, then slowly separates towards the summit. This shape is adjusted to wind characteristics, an analogy of new growth combined with technology," explained Smith and Gill.

According to the official US+GG website, Jeddah Tower's construction costs are estimated at 1.2 billion US dollars or Rp. 19.9 trillion. When completed, this building will not only become an icon of the world's new architecture, but also a symbol of Saudi Arabia's ambition to strengthen its position as a global business, technology and tourism center in the Middle East region.