Construction has officially resumed on the Jeddah Tower, the project set to overtake Dubai’s Burj Khalifa as the world’s tallest building with a staggering height exceeding 1,000 meters.
The Jeddah Economic Company (JEC) spearheads the ambitious project, with Kingdom Holding Company CEO Talal Ibrahim Almaiman confirming the tender issuance. An impressive roster of 14 firms, both local and international, have been invited to bid for the contract. These companies include notable names such as China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Hyundai Engineering Construction, and Skanska. The bidding window remains open until the end of the year, encouraging potential contractors to forge partnerships that span borders.
According to sources close to the project, the development is “now in full swing” with the foundational and piling work already completed, laying a sturdy groundwork for the towering superstructure. The endeavor began in the early 2010s, reaching a one-third completion milestone under the supervision of the Saudi Binladin Group (SBG).
In an effort to maintain momentum and safeguard the project’s integrity, JEC has invoked performance guarantees amounting to $174 million (SR653 million) from SBG. While SBG has stepped back as the contractor, the visionary team led by U.S.-based architect firm Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill, and engineering consultant Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) from Lebanon, remains intact to guide the project to fruition.
With a steadfast consulting team and the previous piling work skillfully handled by Germany’s Bauer, JEC has forged ahead with renewed vigor, already initiating site visits for the bidding contractors.
The imposing Jeddah Tower stands as the focal point of the expansive Jeddah Economic City development, a project enveloping a massive area of 1.5 square kilometers in its initial phase. Upon completion, it promises to dwarf the Burj Khalifa by a remarkable 172 meters.
With key shareholders including the Kingdom Holding Company and the Bakhsh Group, both holding a 40% stake, and the Sharbatly Group with a 20% share, the project embodies a harmonious blend of significant Saudi Arabian stakeholders, steering the nation towards a landmark achievement in architectural history.
