The deadline for the completion of the one-kilometre high Jeddah Tower has been further delayed to 2019, following financial settlements with contractor Saudi Binladin Group (SBG)
The tower is being developed by Saudi Arabia?s Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), and is projected to be world?s tallest tower after its completion, surpassing Dubai?s Burj Khalifa.
Speaking to the press at the project?s construction site, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, confirmed that ?Jeddah Tower is going to be the tallest in the world despite the latest announcement of Dubai building the tallest tower in the world?.
The construction of the tower will progress slowly and steadily, and will rely on the ?cutting-edge technology, including the high-strength reinforced concrete and the pumps used to elevate it to record heights?, he said.
He also marked that the final height of the tower would not be disclosed even to the project partners, until six months before its completion. Also, the size of the spire at the top would be unveiled to them until its completion.
?It is a solid concrete building unlike the one announced in Dubai, which is considered as a skeleton. This is why our tower will be the tallest in the world,? he added.
While giving the update on the current project, he said that the central core that carries elevator shafts and stairwells has outstretched up to Level 50. He announced the overall construction cost of the tower and the surrounding economic city to be nearly US$20bn.
The Jeddah Tower, that currently stands 220 metres and 50-floor high, is the first phase of the Saudi Vision 2030. The phase two of the Kingdom?s vision will consist of building various infrastructures such as skyscrapers, apartment buildings, and other social centres, and phase three will be designed to promote tourism in Jeddah.
