The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, will soon have to empty its spot for the world’s next tallest building. With the height of 3,280-feet-tall (1,000-meter-tall), Jeddah Tower of Saudi Arabia will knock the Dubai’s iconic building off its throne as the world’s tallest skyscraper in the world by 236 feet (72 meters).
Also known as Kingdom Tower, this structure will be ready by 2020, as reported by CNN. The project is the brainchild of His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, nephew of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah and chairman of Kingdom Holding Company.
As of now, Jeddah Tower is reportedly 30 floors complete and already offers spectacular views over the rest of Jeddah and the adjacent sea. Undoubtedly, the structure, estimated to cost $1.4 billion, will be the crown jewel of Jeddah Economic City, a commercial and residential project of 57 million square feet (5.3 million square meters).
Located near the Red Sea, Jeddah Tower will have 252 stories and will house the world’s highest observation deck at 2,178 feet (664 meters) off the ground. Other facilities include a five-star Four Seasons Hotel and 97 affiliated serviced apartments, including seven duplexes.
The elevators of this world’s tallest skyscraper will reportedly reach a record height of 2,165 feet (660 meters). The double-decker lifts that take visitors directly to the observation deck from Level 1 of the building can travel at 12.5 miles per hour.
While Offices will account for seven floors, there will be four “residential tiers” that will include 325 apartments. At the very top, a massive penthouse will allow some lucky tenant to reside in the crown of the building.
The developer of the structure strongly believes that Jeddah Tower will be a game-changer for the area, which has traditionally acted as a gateway to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The awe-inspiring structure has been designed by renowned architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill.