The Burj Khalifa, Dubai’s defining landmark since its completion in 2010, is set to lose its crown. Another new tower rising in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aims to surpass its height, but the fiercest rivalry isn’t local.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE neighbor and regional competitor, is racing ahead with two even taller projects that would eclipse the iconic 828-meter-high (2,717 feet) tower.
Newsweek has contacted the Emirati and Saudi governments for comment.
Why It Matters
Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue doubling down on height, chasing prestige and attention, reflecting a broader Gulf strategy seeking to shift from oil economies to attract global investment, and boost tourism, while establishing a footprint in global architecture.
Among these skyscraper projects are two Trump Towers: one in Jeddah, and another in Dubai. Additionally, the Trump Organization has partnered with Dar Global and OMRAN Group to develop the Trump International Hotel in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Located in the Aida resort area.
Emirati officers prepare to fire the iftar, or fast-breaking, cannon near Burj Khalifa in the center of Dubai, a tradition signaling sunset and the end of fasting for observing Muslims, on the first day of…
Emirati officers prepare to fire the iftar, or fast-breaking, cannon near Burj Khalifa in the center of Dubai, a tradition signaling sunset and the end of fasting for observing Muslims, on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan on March 1, 2025.
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FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images
What To Know
The $5-billion Rise Tower in Riyadh would be the first to reach 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), or 6,562 feet, in height—more than four times as tall as the Empire State Building and overtaking both the Burj Khalifa and the upcoming Jeddah Tower, which is also under construction in the country.
The tower is being developed by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is overseeing several mega-projects falling under the government’s economic vision for 2030.
Meanwhile, construction has accelerated for the Jeddah Tower, or Burj Jeddah, estimated to reach over 1,000 meters in height and is being developed by Jeddah Economic Company & Kingdom Holding Company, led by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Gulf News reports.
بمناسبة عودة الأعمال في #برج_جدة …
فيديو يوضح الفرق بين أطول الأبراج المستقبلية في العالم وبين الابراج الحالية
1️⃣ برج الرياض 2000 متر 🇸🇦
2️⃣ برج جدة 1000 متر 🇸🇦
3️⃣ برج خليفة 829 متر 🇦🇪
يذكر أن برج الرياض الذي صممه Foster + Partners سيكون الأعجوبة المعمارية الحديثة عند اكتماله pic.twitter.com/WDtzK0Pi7z
— سالم القريان | Salem Alqorayan (@SalemQor) October 2, 2024
As for Dubai’s second tallest building, the Burj Azizi by Azizi Developments will stand at 725 meters (2,379 feet), although Gulf News has suggested the tower could reach nearly 1,000 meters.
The Saudi towers are heavily state-backed, whereas the UAE towers are mostly private-sector-led, even if part of Dubai’s government global branding strategy.
Beyond iconic skyscrapers, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are competing to integrate futuristic technologies, including smart city initiatives, Artificial Intelligence-driven infrastructure, and advanced urban planning, reflecting broader ambitions in innovation and economic diversification.
What People Are Saying
Azizi Developments wrote on X in July: “Rising beyond the clouds, Burj Azizi is a universe of its own.”
What Happens Next
Burj Azizi and the Jeddah Tower are slated for completion by 2028, while the Rise Tower’s construction is yet to start as contractor bids are ongoing, according to Gulf News.