New footage has revealed the incredible progress being made on what will soon become the world’s tallest building.
Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower surged past the 100-storey mark back in April, placing the colossus of a building more than 400 metres into the sky as it edges closer to a record-breaking height of the world’s first kilometre-tall building.
When complete, the skyscraper will tower at least 180 metres above Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which currently holds the title of the world’s tallest building at 830 metres (2,722 feet) tall.
Fresh drone footage of the tower as of May 2026 captures the sheer scale of the project, showing the enormous concrete and steel core rising above the surrounding cityscape just weeks after engineers celebrated reaching the 100-floor milestone in April.
The ambitious project forms the centrepiece of the $20 billion (£885 million) Jeddah Economic City development, a vast urban regeneration scheme designed to transform Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline into a major commercial and business hub.
Designed by renowned architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, the sleek glass-clad tower takes inspiration from the folded leaves of a desert plant. Its distinctive three-sided design is not only visually striking but also plays a crucial role in helping the building withstand powerful winds at extreme heights.
View 4 ImagesThe Jeddah Tower(Image: YouTube)
View 4 Images(Image: YouTube)
When completed, the skyscraper will house a luxury Four Seasons hotel, high-end apartments, office space and what is expected to become the highest observation deck in the world. Visitors will be able to take in panoramic views from a staggering 644 metres above ground level.
The tower will also boast the highest human-made viewing platform ever built, located on the 157th floor. Visitors will be transported skywards by double-decker lifts capable of travelling at speeds exceeding 10 metres per second.
Engineers behind the project have described the structure as a major breakthrough in skyscraper design and construction. Rather than relying on traditional steel frameworks packed with support columns and transfer structures, Jeddah Tower uses an innovative concrete-based structural system specifically designed to suit local construction techniques and materials.
View 4 ImagesThe Jeddah v the world’s tallest towers(Image: Gemini)
Its immense weight will be supported by a gigantic foundation consisting of a five-metre-thick concrete raft resting on 270 bored piles, each measuring 1.8 metres in diameter and extending as deep as 105 metres into the ground.
With an estimated construction cost of around £885 million (USD$1.2 billion), the 530,000-square-metre tower is expected to become one of the most recognisable landmarks on the planet.
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If construction remains on schedule, Jeddah Tower will not only claim the title of the world’s tallest building but will also become the first human-made structure ever to rise a full kilometre above the ground – a feat long considered one of engineering’s greatest challenges.