Jeddah Tower construction stalled by Saudi anti-corruption campaign

Construction of the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, intended to be the world’s first building to exceed one kilometer in height, has faced significant delays. While construction began in 2013, work halted in 2018 when the tower was only approximately one-third complete, with roughly sixty floors built.

The stoppage was not caused by technical or financial issues, but by a massive anti-corruption campaign launched in Saudi Arabia in 2017. During this operation, hundreds of individuals were detained, including executives from the main contractor and the conglomerate co-financing the project. Some detainees were held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh.

Engineering challenges for a kilometer-high structure include managing elevator cable weight, mitigating wind vortexes through a tapered triangular design, and the complex process of pumping concrete in extreme desert temperatures. Following a seven-year hiatus, construction resumed last year, with a new completion target set for 2028.