Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower is rising at breathtaking speed. The 1-kilometre megatower has reached nearly 80 floors and is on track to claim the title of world’s tallest building from Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by 2028.
Construction teams are adding a new floor every 3-4 days. This pace is remarkable for a project that sat dormant for years before restarting in January 2025.
How Fast Is Jeddah Tower Being Built?
The numbers speak for themselves.
By August 2025, Jeddah Tower had reached 75 floors. As of December 2025, it has pushed past the 80-floor mark. The concrete core is now over 50% complete out of a planned 157 floors.
Saudi Binladin Group, Dar Al-Handasah, and Turner Construction are driving the project forward. High-pressure concrete pumps are reaching heights that push engineering limits. A second crane has been installed, and glass panels are already going up on completed sections.
The tower sits within Jeddah Economic City on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. When finished, it will feature retail podiums, dining venues, and event spaces across a five-level base.
Jeddah Tower vs Burj Khalifa: The Technical Comparison
The structural differences between these two giants reveal how far engineering has advanced.
Jeddah Tower Foundation:
- 5-metre thick concrete pad
- Covers 7,500 square metres
- Anchored by 270 deep bored piles
- Piles extend up to 110 metres into limestone and coral rock
Burj Khalifa Foundation:
- 3.7-metre concrete mat
- Supported by 192 bored piles
- Each pile is 1.5m in diameter
- Piles extend approximately 50 metres deep
Dubai’s Burj Khalifa has held the world’s tallest building title since 2010, standing at 828 metres. Jeddah Tower aims for 1,008 metres — surpassing it by 180 metres.
Vision 2030: Why Saudi Arabia Is Building Supertall Towers
Jeddah Tower is central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation plan. The kingdom is diversifying away from oil dependence and positioning itself as a global tourism and investment destination.
Kingdom Holding Co, led by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, is driving the project. The tower represents more than architecture — it’s a statement of economic ambition.
Saudi Arabia currently leads global construction activity, with over $1.1 trillion in mega-projects planned or underway. This construction boom is creating massive workforce demands across the region.
Rise Tower: Saudi Arabia’s 2-Kilometre Dream
Jeddah Tower isn’t the only supertall project Saudi Arabia has planned.
Rise Tower in Riyadh aims to become the world’s first 2-kilometre building. Yes, 2,000 metres — twice the height of Jeddah Tower and more than double the Burj Khalifa.
Rise Tower Status:
- Design finalised in 2023/2024
- Contractor bidding underway in 2025
- Backed by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)
- Part of the North Pole District project in Riyadh
If completed, Rise Tower would redefine what’s possible in vertical construction.
What This Means for Dubai
Dubai isn’t standing still. The emirate continues announcing ambitious projects to maintain its architectural edge.
Burj Azizi, a 725-metre tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, is set for completion by 2028. While it won’t match Jeddah Tower’s height, it demonstrates Dubai’s commitment to pushing boundaries.
The competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE is driving innovation across the region. Both nations are investing heavily in iconic structures that attract global attention, investment, and tourism.
GCC construction jobs continue expanding as these mega-projects progress, with 17,000 active positions across the Gulf states.
December 2025 Construction Update
Here’s where both Saudi supertall projects currently stand:
Jeddah Tower (Jeddah)
- Status: Active construction (restarted January 2025)
- Current progress: 80+ floors reached
- Construction pace: One floor every 3-4 days
- Target height: 1,008 metres (157 floors)
- Completion target: 2028
Rise Tower (Riyadh)
- Status: Design complete, awaiting construction start
- Target height: 2,000 metres
- Developer: Public Investment Fund (PIF)
- Timeline: Contractor bids rolling out 2025
FAQ
Will Jeddah Tower be taller than Burj Khalifa? Yes. Jeddah Tower is designed to reach 1,008 metres, making it 180 metres taller than Dubai’s Burj Khalifa at 828 metres.
When will Jeddah Tower be completed? The current target completion date is 2028. Construction restarted in January 2025 after a multi-year pause.
How many floors will Jeddah Tower have? Jeddah Tower is planned to have 157 floors, with retail, dining, and event spaces in its five-level base.
What is Rise Tower in Saudi Arabia? Rise Tower is a proposed 2-kilometre skyscraper in Riyadh, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. If built, it would become the world’s tallest structure by a significant margin.
Why did Jeddah Tower construction stop? Construction paused due to controversy and the pandemic. The project resumed in January 2025 under renewed momentum aligned with Vision 2030.
How does Jeddah Tower’s foundation compare to Burj Khalifa? Jeddah Tower has a 5-metre thick foundation pad with 270 piles reaching 110 metres deep. Burj Khalifa’s foundation is 3.7 metres thick with 192 piles extending 50 metres.
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