World’s tallest skyscraper left half built & abandoned that stands 3x taller than Shard will be finally FINISHED by 2029
A PROJECT to build the world’s tallest building is set to resume after construction was stopped SIX YEARS ago.
The kilometre-high skyscraper on the Saudi Arabian coast is now closer to becoming a reality by the end of the decade.
Courtesy of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.The futuristic building would tower over everything else in Jeddah[/caption]
GettyConstruction of the giant tower has been on hold since 2018[/caption]
Adrian Smith / Gordon Gill ArchitectureThe kilometre-tall skyscraper could be completed by the end of the decade[/caption]
ReutersConstruction is set to resume on the long-awaited project[/caption]
The Jeddah Tower has long been promised as the next Burj Khalifa – the world’s current tallest building in Dubai.
The jaw-droppingly enormous tower would stand at one kilometre high when done, making it three times taller than London’s Shard.
But the project, which began construction more than a decade ago, froze in 2018 following anti-corruption purges in the Saudi government.
Key figures connected to the project were arrested in late 2017, while the Covid pandemic also saw additional delays.
However, after five years in limbo, the project has now resumed development – with construction starting again last autumn.
News outlet Architectural Digest reported that the giant tower, designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture, could be completed in the next four to five years.
Smith and Gill told Architectural Digest: “The design for Jeddah Tower is rooted in the symbolism of Saudi Arabia while looking toward the future by being technologically expressive.”
When finished, the futuristic skyscraper is set to be the first building ever made to be more than a kilometre tall.
The current record for world’s tallest building has been held for many years by Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa, which stands at just under 830 metres high.
The Jeddah Tower would dwarf all over developments in the Saudi port city of Jeddah – which has been floated as among the cities that could host 2034 World Cup matches.
But for many years now, its semi-complete skeleton has loomed large over the construction site.
When construction ground to a halt in 2018, the building was reported to be about a third complete.
Developer Jeddah Economic Company’s website homepage now features a visualisation of the tower with the words “It’s Happening”.
If completed as planned, the tower would join the small club of buildings to have held the top spot as the world’s tallest.
The tower will become the first building to be one kilometre tall
HandoutThe incomplete structure has long been gathering dust in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia[/caption]
AFP or licensorsSaudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal looks at model of Jeddah Tower ahead of a press conference in 2017[/caption]
Other skyscrapers to have held that title over the years include Chicago’s Willis Tower, Taipei 101 in Taiwan and, of course, the current tallest building the Burj Khalifa.
The Jeddah Tower is expected to be mixed-use, including residential, commercial, and office space facilities.
If completed under the suggested timelines, it could take the crown as the world’s tallest building by 2030.
ReutersThe spaceship-like building is being developed by the Jeddah Economic Company[/caption]
The tower is supposed to be the crown jewel in a new waterfront development
Saudi Arabia's mega projects
The Jeddah Tower is one of the many vast projects proposed in Saudi Arabia. These include:
The Line: This 170 kilometre ‘landscraper’ aims to be a flagship part of Saudi Arabia’s Neom project in the country’s north west. The project was reported by Bloomberg to have been ‘scaled back’ in its medium term ambitions.
Neom: This futuristic megacity project comes amid a big drive to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy. It has faced controversy along the way, including from tribes in the area who have reportedly faced eviction to make way for the project.
Jeddah Tower: Aiming to be the world’s tallest building, construction halted on this megatall skyscraper in 2018 following anti-corruption purges. It took around half a decade before construction resumed.
The Clock Towers: Located in Islam’s holiest city of Mecca, the Clock Towers stand among the world’s top ten tallest buildings. However, its construction spared international outcry when a more than 200-year-old Ottoman fort was demolished in 2002 to make way for it.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings