Around the world, countries continue to push the limits of engineering with buildings that grow taller every year. The Middle East and Asia now dominate that field, with supertall towers rising nearly one-kilometre tall. And while Dubai’s Burj Khalifa has held the world record since 2010, a new project is finally preparing to take its crown.

What makes this development stand out is not just its height, but its extraordinary scale. It forms part of an enormous multi-billion-pound urban scheme that is expected to cost over £19 billion in total, according to developer announcements and regional reports.

The structure aiming to surpass the Burj Khalifa is the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia.

Planned to reach more than 1,000 metres, it will become the first building in history to pass the one-kilometre mark. 

Developers say it will dramatically reshape the skyline and act as the centrepiece of Jeddah Economic City, a massive Red Sea development covering 1.7 million square metres.

Work on the tower originally began in 2013 but stopped in 2018 during a nationwide anti-corruption drive, when senior figures connected to the project were detained. 

Construction officially resumed in late 2024 and into 2025, with the development consortium confirming that 63 of the planned 157 floors have already been built.

The project is expected to take around 42 months to complete, meaning it should be done in 2030.

Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, said last year: “We are back,” as he confirmed construction had restarted. 

He told the Saudi newspaper Alwatan that the tower could eventually house up to 100,000 people once complete, and has already boosted property prices in surrounding districts.

The tower itself has been designed to deliver stability at record heights. Its “Y-shaped” base, aerodynamic taper and three-part spire help reduce wind pressure and remove the need for the heavy outrigger systems used in other supertall buildings. 

Much of the structure relies on reinforced concrete walls and a continuous jump-form system to speed up construction.

Inside, the tower is planned as a vertical city. Lower levels will contain offices, followed by a luxury Four Seasons hotel, serviced apartments and high-end residential units.

The top floors will hold an enormous penthouse and the world’s highest observation deck, located on the 157th floor.

A circular sky terrace, originally designed as a helipad, will project from one of the upper levels and is expected to become the highest outdoor viewing platform ever built.

Although earlier estimates placed the tower’s construction cost at more than $1 billion, the wider Jeddah Economic City project pushes total spending into the tens of billions. 

Regional reports quoting Prince Al-Waleed say the tower’s full development will cost nearly 100 billion Saudi riyals, which is close to £19 billion.

Once finished, Jeddah Tower will stand almost 200 metres taller than the Burj Khalifa, which reaches 828m. 

It has been designed by Adrian Smith, the same architect behind Dubai’s landmark skyscraper.

In news slighly closer to home, the National Trust giveaway has just launched and you can get a free National Trust day pass now.