Newly released footage showcases the remarkable advancements made on the soon-to-be tallest building in the world.
Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower surpassed the 100-story milestone in April, positioning the colossal structure over 400 meters into the sky as it approaches the groundbreaking height of the world’s first kilometer-tall building.
Upon completion, the skyscraper will loom at least 180 meters above Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, currently holding the title of the world’s tallest building at 830 meters.
Recent drone footage from May 2026 exhibits the immense scale of the project, displaying the substantial concrete and steel core emerging above the cityscape shortly after achieving the 100-floor mark in April.
The ambitious endeavor serves as the focal point of the $20 billion Jeddah Economic City development, a massive urban revitalization initiative aimed at transforming Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline into a prominent commercial and business district.
Crafted by renowned architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, the sleek glass-clad tower draws inspiration from the folded leaves of a desert plant. Its distinctive three-sided design not only delivers a striking visual appeal but also plays a crucial role in fortifying the building against strong winds at extreme heights.
Once finalized, the skyscraper will accommodate a luxury Four Seasons hotel, upscale apartments, office spaces, and what is anticipated to be the highest observation deck globally, offering panoramic views from a staggering 644 meters above ground level.
Additionally, the tower will feature the highest human-made viewing platform ever constructed on the 157th floor, accessible via double-decker lifts capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 10 meters per second.
Engineers overseeing the project laud the structure as a significant innovation in skyscraper design and construction, employing an inventive concrete-based structural system tailored to local construction methods and materials instead of traditional steel frameworks.
The tower’s substantial weight will be upheld by a massive foundation comprising a five-meter-thick concrete raft resting on 270 bored piles, each measuring 1.8 meters in diameter and extending as deep as 105 meters into the ground.
With an estimated construction cost of around £885 million (USD$1.2 billion), the 530,000-square-meter tower is poised to become one of the most iconic landmarks worldwide.
If construction proceeds as planned, Jeddah Tower will not only secure the accolade of the world’s tallest building but will also mark the first human-made structure to ascend a full kilometer above the ground – a remarkable engineering feat long deemed one of the discipline’s greatest challenges.
