For more than seven years it seemed like an impossible dream. Work slowed, financial problems arose, and many experts came to believe that the project would never be completed. However, in the middle of the Saudi Arabian desert, a gigantic tower is growing again and has already reached a milestone that brings it closer to a record that no building has achieved in history.

This is the Jeddah Tower, a construction designed to exceed 1,000 meters in height and become the first skyscraper in the world to break the kilometer barrier. Its progress once again captured international attention after the works resumed its pace and the structure reached approximately 100 floors built.

The building that wants to leave the Burj Khalifa behind

Currently, the title of the tallest building on the planet belongs to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which reaches 828 meters. The Jeddah Tower aims to go much further.

When it is finished, it will exceed one kilometer in height and will become one of the most ambitious engineering works ever carried out. The project was designed by architect Adrian Smith, who was also involved in the design of the Burj Khalifa.

The difference is enormous: the new tower will be more than 170 meters higher than the current world record.

A project that seemed doomed

Construction began in 2013 and progressed rapidly over the first few years. However, in 2018 the works were practically paralyzed due to financial problems, changes in the real estate market and difficulties related to the project developers.

For years, the concrete skeleton stood still on the skyline of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second largest city. Therefore, the restart of works was received as a sign that the megaproject is still alive.

What will the tower be like inside?

The Jeddah Tower will not be just a skyscraper. The complex will include:

One of its main attractions will be an observation platform located at an unprecedented height, from where you can see the Red Sea and a large part of the city.

The symbol of a new Saudi Arabia

The tower is part of a broader strategy promoted by Saudi Arabia to diversify its economy and attract investment, tourism and large international projects.

In recent years, the country has opted for gigantic developments such as NEOM, The Line and other initiatives that seek to transform the image of the kingdom and reduce its dependence on oil.

The Jeddah Tower has become one of the most visible symbols of that transformation.

When will it be finished?

There is still no definitive opening date. The most recent estimates suggest that construction could take several more years due to the technical complexity of a work of this size.

Raising a structure over a kilometer long involves unique challenges related to wind, elevators, material strength, and safety systems. Even so, the recent progress of the works once again fuels the expectation that the world will be able to see for the first time a building that exceeds 1,000 meters in height.

For now, the Jeddah Tower continues to grow floor by floor. And each new level brings Saudi Arabia a little closer to a record that seemed reserved for science fiction.