Work on world's tallest building resumes after seven-year hiatus

'Jeddah Tower' is expected to be completed by 2028.

Construction work on what is set to become the world’s tallest building, the Jeddah Tower, has resumed in Saudi Arabia.

The Jeddah Tower, which was halted seven years ago during an anti-corruption campaign across the kingdom, is back on track. At a recent event on the construction site, the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), the group behind the project, announced that the tower is expected to be completed by 2028.

The tower, which stands at 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) and was already about one-third complete, saw delays in 2017 when several key figures, including the main contractor and financial backers, were detained as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s anti-corruption drive. The campaign led to the investigation of hundreds of suspects.

Image : jeddahtower.org

While construction continued for a brief period, work eventually came to a halt. JEC told CNN that the project was set to resume, but it was delayed further due to the year-long disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Formerly referred to as the Kingdom Tower, this iconic skyscraper commenced construction in 2013, with initial completion projected for 2020. Once finished, it will surpass Dubai's Burj Khalifa by more than 500 feet, making it the tallest building in the world.

Image: jeddahtower.org

The tower will offer a mix of office, retail, and residential spaces. The original plans, unveiled in 2011, included amenities such as a hotel, shopping mall, and the highest observation deck globally.

Designed by US architect Adrian Smith, the tower features a “three-petal” base and a tapered, aerodynamic silhouette, which help address the significant technical challenges associated with such tall structures.

According to Smith's Chicago-based firm, Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, the tower's design is intended to resemble a bundle of leaves rising from the ground.