For more than a decade, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa has held the crown as the tallest building in the world, standing at 828 metres. But new mega-projects in Saudi Arabia are now preparing to challenge that record, promising towers that will change the global skyline.
In Riyadh, the ambitious Rise Tower is in the design phase and has already attracted global attention. If completed as planned, it will soar to 2,000 metres—more than double the height of the Burj Khalifa.
The tower is expected to feature nearly 700 floors, offering hotels, restaurants, offices, and viewing platforms. It will also serve as the centrepiece of the futuristic North Pole development, a massive city-scale project designed to reshape Riyadh’s landscape.
Meanwhile, in Jeddah, work has resumed on the long-delayed Jeddah Tower. Construction on the one-kilometre-tall skyscraper had been paused for years, but activity is back on track.
Developers have confirmed that the project will include luxury apartments, business centres, and a hotel, along with an observation deck overlooking the Red Sea. So far, over 60 floors have been built, with completion targeted within the next few years.
Both Saudi projects are backed by major investments and global architectural expertise, setting up a strong rivalry to dethrone Dubai’s iconic landmark.
The race to build the tallest tower is no longer about just breaking records, it is about shaping the future of cities in the Middle East. While Burj Khalifa continues to shine, its reign at the top may not last forever.
