Construction of Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower, set to be the world’s tallest skyscraper, has officially resumed after a seven-year hiatus. The project, which was halted in 2018 amid a widespread anti-corruption purge in the kingdom, is now expected to be completed by 2028.
At a ceremony held on the construction site, the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), the development consortium behind the tower, announced the resumption of work on the 1,000-meter (3,280-foot) skyscraper, which will surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa as the tallest building in the world. The project had been about one-third complete before work stopped in 2017 due to the arrests of key figures in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s anti-corruption campaign.
One of the previously detained figures, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who is a key backer of the project, attended the resumption ceremony. Alwaleed, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, posted a video on social media declaring, “We’re back,” following the event.
The tower, which will house office, retail, and residential spaces, is the centerpiece of the larger Jeddah Economic City development. The project’s main contractor, the Saudi Binladen Group, has also resumed work, having secured a new contract worth 7.2 billion riyal ($1.9 billion) to complete construction. Designed by U.S. architect Adrian Smith, the tower’s shape was inspired by a bundle of leaves shooting from the ground.
Initially expected to be completed by 2020, the Jeddah Tower will also feature the world’s highest observation deck.
