For more than a decade, Burj Khalifa has reigned supreme as the tallest building on the planet. But that crown may not stay in Dubai forever. Ambitious projects in Riyadh and Jeddah are setting their sights far above the current record.

Riyadh’s Rise Tower: aiming for the sky—and beyond

Saudi Arabia’s most eye-catching proposal is the Rise Tower, a planned megastructure that could soar to an astonishing 2,000 metres. If completed, it would more than double the height of the Burj Khalifa, which stands at 828 metres.

The project is backed by the Public Investment Fund and designed by global architecture firm HKS, which recently unveiled early design concepts. Although the tower has been in development discussions since 2023, it is still firmly in the design stage, meaning completion is some way off.

Plans suggest the Rise Tower will contain 678 floors, packed with luxury hotels, fine-dining venues, premium office space, and multiple observation decks. It’s also intended to anchor a vast 306-square-kilometre masterplan known as the North Pole development, a futuristic “city within a city” on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Riyadh’s Rise Tower (Photo: HKS Architects)

Jeddah Tower: the long-awaited giant

Meanwhile, Jeddah is pushing ahead with its own record-breaking skyscraper: the Jeddah Tower, previously known as the Jeddah Economic Company Tower. While it won’t match the proposed height of the Rise Tower, it is still expected to exceed 1,000 metres, comfortably surpassing Dubai’s landmark.

Construction on Jeddah Tower has faced repeated delays over the past decade, but momentum has returned. Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal confirmed the restart last year, and in January, Kingdom Holding Company officially announced that work was back underway.

By late 2025, the structure had climbed beyond the 80th floor, with installation of the glass façade now in progress. Once finished, the tower will include luxury residences, commercial offices, a Four Seasons hotel, and an observation deck overlooking both the city and the Red Sea. Some reports suggest the tower’s main structure could ultimately reach beyond 1.5 kilometres.

The Jeddah Tower (Photo: Jeddah Economic Company Tower)

Dubai isn’t standing still either

Even as Saudi Arabia pushes forward, Dubai may not be ready to give up the spotlight. A 2024 report indicated that Emaar, the developer behind the Burj Khalifa, is exploring plans for a new “super tower” that could rival — or even surpass — its iconic predecessor.

How long will Burj Khalifa stay on top?

With Jeddah Tower projected to be completed around 2028, the Burj Khalifa still has a few more years to enjoy its title as the world’s tallest building. Interestingly, both the Burj Khalifa and Jeddah Tower share the same visionary architect: Adrian Smith.

Whether Riyadh’s Rise Tower becomes reality or remains an ultra-ambitious concept, one thing is clear: the Middle East is redefining what’s possible in skyscraper design — and the global race for the sky is far from over.