Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plan to construct the world’s tallest building is gathering momentum, with the Jeddah Tower expected to reach a major construction milestone before the end of 2026.
The skyscraper, located in Jeddah, has already risen to its 121st floor, bringing it close to the halfway point of its planned height of approximately 3,281 feet (1,000 metres).
Once completed, the tower will overtake Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which currently holds the record as the world’s tallest building at 2,717 feet.
According to members of the project team, the structure has reached a height of 484 metres, leaving it with roughly 16 metres and four additional floors to go before reaching the halfway mark.
Ben Johnson, a director at the architectural firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, said the milestone is expected around Thanksgiving, with construction officials confident it will be achieved before the year ends.
The contractor, Saudi Binladin Group, disclosed that workers have been adding approximately four floors every month. The company also reported completing 49 floors within 52 weeks, reflecting the pace of construction since work resumed in 2025 after a suspension lasting about six years.
The project is currently targeting completion around August 2028, although the team has acknowledged that the timeline could depend on how different stages of construction progress. Structural completion, in particular, is expected to extend into the final quarter of 2028.
Beyond its extraordinary height, the Jeddah Tower will feature a massive outdoor observation platform known as the sky terrace. Located approximately 2,066 feet above ground, the facility is expected to become the highest and largest outdoor observation deck in the world.
Construction of the supporting steel framework for the platform is expected to begin next year. Another major component, known as the sky raft, will also be developed as the tower moves towards the upper sections of its structure.
However, construction is not without difficulties. Strong winds, extreme temperatures and changing weather conditions have affected work at the site. Engineers explained that wind speeds increase significantly at higher elevations, sometimes forcing workers to suspend operations for safety reasons.
The team also expects weather-related disruptions to remain a concern in 2027, particularly with the anticipated strengthening of the El Niño climate pattern.
Despite these challenges, project officials remain confident that substantial progress will be made over the coming months as the tower moves towards its record-breaking height.
The Jeddah Tower was designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, the architects behind several major skyscraper projects, including Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.
When completed, the Saudi Arabian development will not only claim the title of the world’s tallest building but also mark another major achievement in modern skyscraper engineering.
