Jeddah Tower, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious bid to build the world’s tallest skyscraper, is now targeted for completion in late 2028, according to Fabian Toscano, chief executive of Jeddah Economic Company (JEC).
The revised timeline represents a delay of several months compared with schedules disclosed last year, reflecting supply chain challenges, rising construction costs and broader pressures affecting major infrastructure and real estate projects across the Middle East.
Speaking at the Saudi Mega Projects 2026 conference in Riyadh, Toscano confirmed that the tower reached its 116th floor last month and now stands at approximately 466 metres.
With 157 floors planned in total, 41 floors remain to be completed before the structure reaches its full height.
Progress Toward a Landmark Height
The latest construction milestone highlights the scale of a project that has been designed to redefine the global skyscraper landscape.
Jeddah Tower is engineered to exceed 1,000 metres, putting it on course to overtake Dubai’s 828-metre Burj Khalifa as the world’s tallest building once completed.
Toscano, however, indicated that the project continues to operate in a challenging cost environment. Ongoing regional geopolitical tensions are contributing to higher procurement and labour costs for contractors involved in Saudi Arabia’s expanding megaproject pipeline.
These pressures have added complexity to an already ambitious construction programme, requiring developers and contractors to continuously reassess costs, logistics and delivery schedules.
A New Anchor on the Red Sea
Located in Obhur, approximately 20 kilometres north of central Jeddah, Jeddah Tower occupies a strategic position between Obhur Creek and the Red Sea.
The skyscraper is the centrepiece of the 5.3 million-square-metre Jeddah Economic City masterplan. Toscano has described the tower as the “heart of the project”, reflecting its intended role as both an architectural landmark and a major economic catalyst for the surrounding development.
Jeddah Economic City is ultimately planned to accommodate more than 200,000 residents and serve as a major commercial gateway along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline.
Designed as a Vertical City
Once completed, Jeddah Tower is expected to become more than a record-breaking skyscraper.
The mixed-use development is planned to include a luxury Four Seasons hotel, premium commercial office space, residential apartments and what is expected to become the world’s highest outdoor observation deck.
Its design is intended to combine hospitality, business, residential and leisure uses within a single vertical destination, reinforcing the tower’s role in the wider transformation of Jeddah.
A Project Shaped by Delays and Renewed Momentum
Jeddah Tower originally broke ground more than a decade ago but subsequently experienced prolonged construction interruptions linked to contractor restructuring, economic conditions and wider regional developments.
Construction momentum returned following the re-engagement of major contracting groups and renewed support from key shareholders, including Kingdom Holding Company and Saudi Binladin Group.
The project’s revival comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is accelerating investment in large-scale tourism, infrastructure and real estate developments as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification programme.
Rising Costs Add Pressure
The latest schedule also reflects a broader reality facing Gulf megaprojects.
Higher material and labour costs, supply chain disruptions and freight challenges have forced developers across the region to reassess original budget assumptions and construction timelines.
For Jeddah Tower, the scale of the remaining construction means maintaining momentum will be critical as the project moves toward its revised 2028 target.
Yet reaching 466 metres already represents a significant milestone for a structure that is ultimately expected to rise beyond the 1,000-metre mark.
A New Chapter for Jeddah
Beyond its height, Jeddah Tower is positioned as a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly changing economic and urban landscape.
The project forms part of a broader strategy to develop the western coastline, strengthen Jeddah’s position as a global destination and create new commercial and residential hubs along the Red Sea.
If delivered as planned, the tower will not only challenge the Burj Khalifa’s long-standing height record but also become the defining architectural centrepiece of Jeddah Economic City.
With 41 floors still to rise, the race toward the world’s tallest building is entering another decisive phase. For Saudi Arabia, Jeddah Tower represents more than a race for height—it is a statement of ambition, investment and the country’s vision for its next generation of cities.
