Two ambitious projects are vying for the title of tallest skyscraper in the world: the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia and the Dubai Creek Tower in the United Arab Emirates. These colossal structures aim to redefine the respective skylines of Jeddah and Dubai.
Buildings over 500 meters high in the world can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Today, the tallest building in the world is Dubai’s famous skyscraper, Burj Khalifa, which stands at 828 meters. The second is already 150 meters lower, and the third is a real baby compared to them.
But the difficulties of building skyscrapers only concern engineers, and people with a lot of money are more concerned and attracted by good numbers. It seems that 1000 meters is one of the most attractive, because over the years several such projects have been proposed around the world. Most remained on paper. Only two projects, one in Saudi Arabia and the other in Dubai, have reached the foundation stage.
Jeddah Tower: a height shrouded in secrecy
The Saudis have been thinking about building a hyper skyscraper since at least 2007. In the project presented to the public a few years later, the height of the Jeddah Tower is indicated at 1,008 meters. This is only an estimate, a rather optimistic one in fact. When the building is completed, the height may be slightly lower.
It is also likely that the name is different. The nickname Jeddah Tower was given to it by journalists, simply to mention it in their articles. This is often the case: the Burj Khalifa, already mentioned, was simply called Dubai Tower during construction.
Jeddah Tower will be a full-fledged skyscraper, with most of the height devoted to residential floors including apartments, offices, fitness rooms, restaurants and other pleasures of life at the top of the world. Why am I mentioning this project separately? The fact is that their competitors are building, how shall I put it, not really a building.
Dubai Creek: big, but is it a skyscraper?
Dubai developers began work on their project almost 10 years later. Even less is known about its height. At first, the developer suggested that it would be 100 meters higher than the Burj Khalifa, or 928 meters.
Then someone pointed out that if you built 8 Dubai Creek Towers and put them on top of each other, the height would be 11 kilometers – and since that’s the case, its height should be 1,300 meters.
According to another source, the height of 5 “Creeks” is equal to that of 8 “Burjas”. In this case, its height should be 1345 meters above sea level in total.
Comparison of projects
Design and architecture
- Jeddah Tower : Design inspired by Islamic geometric shapes and palm leaves. Use of advanced technologies to withstand the climatic conditions of the region.
- Dubai Creek Tower : Inspired by the lily, with support cables resembling the veins of the flower. Will incorporate panoramic viewing platforms offering stunning views of the city and beyond.
Features and usage
- Jeddah Tower : Will include offices, hotels, luxury residences and an observation deck at 644 meters.
- Dubai Creek Tower : Intended primarily for viewing platforms and tourist attractions, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading tourist destination.
Who is most likely to succeed? If there is a chance…
Both projects face considerable technical and financial challenges. The extreme height imposes unique requirements on foundations, building materials, and anti-wind and anti-seismic technologies. Additionally, economic fluctuations and budget constraints may delay or modify initial plans.
The economic and tourist impact
These skyscrapers are not only marvels of engineering; they are also symbols of the economic power and ambitions of the host countries. They will attract tourists, investors and businesses from around the world, helping to diversify local economies and boost urban development.
The race to build the first skyscraper over 1,000 meters is a testament to human innovation and ambition. Whether it is the Jeddah Tower or the Dubai Creek Tower that achieves this record first, each project represents a monumental milestone in the history of architecture and engineering. The eyes of the world are on these two cities as they prepare to redefine what it means to touch the sky.
This 9-minute animation allows you to discover other large tower construction projects currently underway.