Almost every country in the world has skyscrapers; still, they do not have the tallest, like Jeddah Tower and Burj Khalifa. There is only one country in the world that has the tallest building in the world, and there is also one country that is trying to beat the current world record. These countries are the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates has the current longest building in the world, which is Burj Khalifa, and Saudi Arabia is continuously trying to make the Jeddah Tower. Let’s talk about the 19 main differences between Jeddah Tower and Burj Khalifa to understand how they differ from each other.
Overview of Burj Khalifa and Jeddah Tower
Jeddah Tower
The Jeddah Tower, also known as the Kingdom Tower, is a tower under construction for 12 years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. When it’s complete, it will be the first building to reach a height of 1 kilometer (3,281 feet). This project is designed to represent Saudi Arabia at the international level and build tourism in the country.
Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai, is currently the tallest building in the world, with a height of 828 meters (2,717 feet). This project was completed in 2010 and represents Dubai on an international level, because of Burj Khalifa, millions of tourists visit Dubai to see this building.
19 Main Differences between Jeddah Tower and Burj Khalifa
- Height
Jeddah Tower is taller than Burj khalifa by over 170 meters. The height of Burj Khalifa is 828 meters, and Jeddah Tower is expected to reach 1km. Currently, Burj Khalifa has the record of the world’s tallest building, but after the completion of Jeddah Tower, Burj Khalifa lost its record.
- Location
Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai, a main commercial center in the UAE. Jeddah Tower is being built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s seaport city and entry to Mecca.
- Purpose
Burj Khalifa is made to boost tourism in the UAE and to represent the UAE on an international level. Jeddah Tower is also made for these purposes, but is being promoted seriously as a symbol of Saudi Vision 2030 and a push to the country’s development.
- Year of Completion
Burj Khalifa was completed in 2010. While Jeddah Tower work started in 2013 but it was stopped in 2018 because of many problems, but it started working again in 2025. According to the current information, a new date suggests completion of this tower is around 2028.
- Developer
The Burj Khalifa was established by Emaar Properties, a big real estate company in the UAE. Jeddah Tower is being developed by Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), supported by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s Empire Holding Company.
- Architectural Style
While both towers hold modern designs, Burj Khalifa places more towards a stylish architecture, also Jeddah Tower draws inspiration from Islamic architecture, imitating the shape of a desert plant shooting upward.
- Structural System
Burj Khalifa uses a buttressed core system, which provides the best support according to its size. Jeddah Tower is using a tri-petal core structure, while the buttressed system is more powerful, but tri-petal is also powerful; it can also manage high wind and dust.
- Cost of Construction
Burj Khalifa cost around 1.5 billion dollars to build. Jeddah Tower’s estimated cost is over 1.8 billion dollars, mostly due to its greater height and technical demands.
- Number of Floors
Burj Khalifa has 163 comfortable floors and extra mechanical levels. 167 floors are expected in Jeddah Tower, with more comfortable and advanced mechanics.
- Use of Space
Burj Khalifa has everything, including luxury rooms, hotels, elevators, etc. Jeddah Tower will also include luxury rooms, office space, a Four Seasons Hotel, and serviced houses.
- Elevators
Burj Khalifa has 57 elevators, some are more luxurious. Jeddah Tower is predicted to have 59 elevators, including some of the fastest in the world, capable of traveling up to 10 meters per second.
- Design Inspiration
Burj Khalifa’s design was inspired by the Hymenocallis flower. Jeddah Tower was designed its the shape of desert vegetation and the idea of vertical growth toward the sky.
- Sustainability Features
Both towers use eco-friendly systems, but Jeddah Tower will improve further with advanced protective systems, energy-efficient glass, and water recycling technologies, in line with modern sustainability goals.
- Construction Materials
Burj Khalifa used the best concrete and steel. Jeddah Tower also uses a reinforced concrete core but adds higher-strength materials to endure the extreme height and Red Sea humidity.
- Difficulties
Burj Khalifa’s main difficulty was wind resistance and foundation weight. Jeddah Tower’s engineers have fought with wind forces, erosion from sea air, and the weight of a 1 km structure.
- Iconic Status
Burj Khalifa is already famous, included in movies, magazines, and postcards. Jeddah Tower goals to take over that throne as an inspiration for Saudi transformation.
- Tourist Accessibility
Burj Khalifa is a very tourist-friendly place, with millions of visitors from all over the world every year. Jeddah Tower’s access may be more limited, firstly, especially due to its proximity to religious sites.
- Political and Economic Factors
Burj Khalifa helped the UAE to a stable economy and a leadership vision. Jeddah Tower is multi-time faced many problems, including political tensions, economic factors, and COVID-19.
- Future
While Burj Khalifa helped transform Dubai into a tourist center, Jeddah Tower is set to change Jeddah Economic City, a planned area meant to rival other global cities.
Conclusion
The Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building, but the Jeddah Tower is getting ready to take over the Burj Khalifa. From height and design to purpose and symbolism, each construction has its own unique identity.
