Jeddah — Saudi Arabia’s JEC Tower, set to become the world’s tallest building, has crossed the 100-storey milestone, now standing at 102 floors and advancing steadily toward its planned height of over one kilometre, according to Beyond Time News.
Rapid Construction Progress
The tower stood at just 69 storeys as recently as November last year. Construction has since accelerated sharply, placing JEC Tower among a handful of buildings worldwide to have reached this level of vertical development. Upon completion, it is expected to comprise at least 157 floors.
Towering Above All Others
Once finished, JEC Tower will stand well above Dubai’s Burj Khalifa — currently the world’s tallest building at 828 metres — and will be nearly twice the height of New York’s One World Trade Center at 541 metres.
Engineering at the Extreme
Designed by architects Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the tower’s structural system relies on interconnected load-bearing walls rather than conventional columns, outriggers, or transfer beams. Every element is engineered to resist both wind and gravity forces simultaneously, enabling rapid construction at unprecedented scale.
Structural engineers Thornton Tomasetti highlighted the decision to adopt a concrete-dominant system suited to regional building practices. “Concrete is king in the Middle East,” the firm noted.
At its base, the tower rests on a five-metre-thick raft slab supported by 270 bored piles, each 1.8 metres in diameter and extending up to 105 metres deep.
Riyadh: Saudi Royal Court Announces Passing of Prince Nawaf bin Naif
What the Tower Will Offer
Formerly known as the Kingdom Tower and later the Jeddah Tower, JEC Tower forms the centrepiece of a wider urban development in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. The skyscraper will house the world’s highest observation deck, a luxury hotel, office space, and high-end residential apartments.
Part of Saudi Arabia’s Gigaproject Vision
The tower is one of several major projects under Saudi Arabia’s strategy to diversify its economy and grow its tourism sector. While other developments including The Line and the Mukaab have faced delays or redesigns, JEC Tower appears to be progressing steadily — signalling renewed momentum behind one of the Kingdom’s most ambitious architectural undertakings.
FAQs
1. How tall will JEC Tower be? Over one kilometre, with at least 157 floors upon completion.
2. Where is JEC Tower located? In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as the centrepiece of a major urban development project.
3. How does it compare to the Burj Khalifa? It will stand well above the Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building at 828 metres.
4. What will the tower contain? The world’s highest observation deck, a luxury hotel, offices, and residential apartments.
5. How many storeys has it reached so far? 102 storeys, up from 69 in November last year.
