After more than a decade of uncertainty, Saudi Arabia’s most bold skyscraper project is finally showing signs of forward momentum. The JEC Tower, envisioned as the tallest building ever constructed, has reached a critical milestone, with its central core now rising to floor 69. For a project that has seen prolonged delays, funding concerns and a lengthy construction pause, this progress marks a decisive shift from speculation to measurable reality. Once widely questioned, the tower is once again climbing skyward. Know more about it on SURFACES REPORTER (SR).
According to AS+GG, the tower will exceed a km in height, surpassing Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by a considerable margin.
Designed by US-based firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), the tower has undergone several identity changes since its inception. Originally announced as the Kingdom Tower, it was later renamed the Jeddah Tower and is now officially known as the JEC Tower, after the Jeddah Economic Company that is overseeing its development. Located in the coastal Saudi city of Jeddah and backed by Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, the project aims to redefine global benchmarks for vertical architecture. According to AS+GG, the tower will exceed km in height, surpassing Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by a considerable margin. To put its scale into perspective, it will stand nearly twice as tall as One World Trade Centre in New York and more than three times the height of London’s Shard.
Beyond its headline grabbing height, the JEC Tower is designed as a mixed-use vertical city. When completed, it will feature at least 157 floors served by 59 high-speed elevators, an extraordinary logistical feat in itself. The programme includes the world’s highest observation deck, a luxury hotel, premium office spaces and exclusive residential apartments tailored to an ultra-high-end market. Reportedly, at present, the construction activity is concentrated on the tower’s central core, which is leading the ascent, while the three flanking wings trail behind by approximately five floors.
The programme includes the world’s highest observation deck, a luxury hotel, premium office spaces and exclusive residential apartments tailored to an ultra-high-end market.
After remaining largely inactive for years, work resumed in January, and activity has accelerated steadily in the months since. Approximately half of the total concrete volume required for the building has already been poured, which is a significant achievement given the complexity and scale of the structure. Reportedly, the architects have reconfirmed an August 2028 completion date.
Image credit: AS+GG