JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA — For sixteen years, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai has stood as the undisputed monarch of the skies. At 828 meters, it is not just a building; it is a global icon of human ambition. However, as of January 10, 2026, the architectural world is buzzing with a singular question: Is the “Sticky Bandit” of skyscrapers finally about to lose its crown?
Recent milestones at the Jeddah Tower construction site suggest that the reign of the Burj Khalifa may finally have an expiration date. After years of high-profile delays, the “Kilometer-High” project is no longer a dormant skeleton on the Red Sea coast—it is a rising giant.
The Resurgence: Jeddah Tower Reaches the 80th Floor
The most significant update of 2026 came just days ago. Structural engineering consultancy Thornton Tomasetti confirmed that as of December 2025, the Jeddah Tower has officially surpassed the 80-floor mark.
This is a critical psychological and engineering milestone. When construction halted in 2018, the tower was stuck at floor 63. Since work resumed in early 2025, the Saudi Binladin Group has successfully remobilized thousands of workers, installed new high-capacity cranes, and began the intricate process of pouring the specialized high-performance concrete required for supertall structures.
“The momentum on-site is robust,” said a spokesperson for the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC). “We are now moving at a pace of one new floor every few days. The vision of reaching 1,000 meters is no longer a plan; it is an active reality.”
Burj Khalifa vs. Jeddah Tower: The Tale of the Tape
The rivalry between these two megastructures is more than just a battle for height; it is a competition between two neighboring visions for the future of the Middle East.
| Feature | Burj Khalifa (Current King) | Jeddah Tower (The Challenger) |
| Height | 828 Meters (2,717 ft) | 1,000+ Meters (3,280+ ft) |
| Status | Completed (2010) | Under Construction (Est. 2028) |
| Floors | 163 | 167+ |
| Observation Deck | 555 Meters | 652 Meters (Planned) |
| Architect | Adrian Smith | Adrian Smith |
Interestingly, both towers share the same “father”—architect Adrian Smith. While the Burj Khalifa utilized a “Y-shaped” plan to manage wind loads, the Jeddah Tower takes this a step further with a more aerodynamic, tapered design inspired by a bundle of leaves springing from the ground.
The Engineering Challenge: How Do You Build a Kilometer High?
Building a structure that reaches the clouds requires more than just steel and glass. In 2026, the Jeddah Tower project is serving as a global technology showcase for several reasons:
- Vertical Transportation: With 59 elevators, the tower will feature some of the world’s fastest lifts. KONE has provided specialized “UltraRope” technology—a carbon-fiber core that is lighter and stronger than traditional steel cables, allowing elevators to travel over 600 meters in a single run.
- Wind Resistance: At 1,000 meters, wind is the greatest enemy. The tower’s triangular footprint and sloped exterior are designed to “confuse” the wind, preventing the formation of organized vortices that could cause the building to sway.
- Pumping Concrete: Pumping liquid concrete nearly a kilometer straight up into the air is a feat of extreme pressure. Engineers are using specialized high-pressure pumps that were previously refined during the Burj Khalifa’s construction.
Why Is This Happening Now? Vision 2030
The sudden acceleration of the Jeddah Tower is intrinsically linked to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The Kingdom is racing to diversify its economy away from oil, positioning itself as a global hub for tourism and luxury real estate.
The Jeddah Tower is the centerpiece of the Jeddah Economic City, a $20 billion development that will house a Four Seasons hotel, luxury residences, and premium office spaces. Completion is currently targeted for 2028. If this timeline holds, the Burj Khalifa will have enjoyed exactly 18 years at the top before being surpassed.
The “New” Top 10 Tallest Buildings (As of Jan 2026)
While Jeddah Tower climbs, the rest of the world hasn’t stood still. The rankings have shifted significantly over the last few years.
- Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE) – 828m
- Merdeka 118 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) – 679m
- Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China) – 632m
- Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower (Mecca, Saudi Arabia) – 601m
- Ping An Finance Center (Shenzhen, China) – 599m
- Lotte World Tower (Seoul, South Korea) – 555m
- One World Trade Center (New York, USA) – 541m
- Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre (Guangzhou, China) – 530m
- Tianjin CTF Finance Centre (Tianjin, China) – 530m
- China Zun (Beijing, China) – 527m
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When will Jeddah Tower be completed? Current projections from the Jeddah Economic Company target a completion date in 2028, with partial openings of the observation deck possible by late 2027.
2. How much taller will it be than the Burj Khalifa? The Jeddah Tower is designed to be at least 172 meters (564 feet) taller than the Burj Khalifa, making it the first man-made structure to reach the 1-kilometer mark.
3. Why was the project stopped for so many years? Construction was halted in 2018 due to a combination of contractor issues, political shifts within the Kingdom, and later, the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Is there another building planned to be even taller? There are rumors of a “Rise Tower” in Riyadh that could reach 2 kilometers, but that project is currently in the early design phase and has not yet broken ground.
5. Can I visit the Jeddah Tower now? No, the site remains a closed construction zone. However, the surrounding Jeddah Economic City infrastructure is being built rapidly, with some retail and residential areas expected to open ahead of the tower itself.
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Next Step: Would you like me to find more details on the “Rise Tower” in Riyadh or a technical breakdown of the elevator systems used in the Jeddah Tower?
Learn more about the Jeddah Tower construction update which highlights the engineering marvels and the history of the project’s journey toward completion.
This video provides a visual overview of the Jeddah Tower’s design, the engineering challenges involved in building to a height of one kilometer, and how it directly compares to the Burj Khalifa.