The new building may eclipse Burj Dubai, currently the world’s tallest building Photo: REUTERS
A Saudi prince plans to build the world’s tallest building at around 1,000 metres.
Al-Waleed bin Talal says the tower will be more than a kilometre high and will cost approximately $40bn to be built.
The tower will be built in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.
The world’s tallest man-made structure is currently the Burj Dubai skyscraper in Dubai which is still under construction but already stands at more than 680 metres in height.
However, it is not yet known exactly how high the tower in Jeddah will be as Mr Al-Waleed is remaining tight-lipped about the details.
“I don’t want to say [the exact height] right now,” said the prince. To do so would give other developers a specific height to surpass, he explained, hinting at the race taking place in the Middle East to build the world’s tallest building.
The building will, however, be more than a kilometre high and is part of a larger multibillion project to develop Jeddah.
The project, called Kingdom City, will span 23 million square metres and will include luxury homes, hotels and offices.
Prince Al-Waleed’s business, Kingdom Holding Company, is in charge of the project.
Forbes estimates his personal fortune to be $21bn, making him the 19th richest man in the world.
