Burj Khalifa Might Lose Its Tallest Building Status, Here's Why

The world-renowned Burj Khalifa, standing proudly in Dubai, UAE, has marked its 14th anniversary since opening to the public. Soaring to an incredible height of 828 meters (2,716 feet 6 inches), this iconic skyscraper has held multiple Guinness World Records titles since its official opening on December 4, 2010, according to the Guinness world records.

The construction, which commenced on December 6, 2004, secured the Burj Khalifa's place in the Guinness World Records Hall of Fame as the tallest building globally. However, a looming challenge to its title arises as a building in Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah Tower (also known as Kingdom Tower), is expected to surpass its height upon completion.

How Jeddah Tower could be a potential successor for the world's tallest building title?

Under construction by the Jeddah Economic Company, the Jeddah Tower is anticipated to reach a staggering height of over 1,000 meters (1 km; 3,281 feet). Set to be a multifunctional marvel, the skyscraper will encompass luxury housing, office space, serviced apartments, and luxury condominiums.

Notably, it is poised to feature the "world's highest observatory," although the only comparable record currently monitored is that of the highest astronomical observatory, held by the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory at an altitude of 5,640 meters (18,503 feet). In contrast, the Burj Khalifa boasts a diverse range of offerings, including a hotel, luxury residences, office space, observation decks, restaurants, and health facilities.

Potential Challenges to Burj Khalifa's Records by Jeddah Tower

Given the reported similarities, if the Jeddah Tower indeed ends up surpassing the Burj Khalifa in height, various records may shift from the iconic Dubai skyscraper to its Saudi Arabian counterpart. According to GWS records, here is a comprehensive list of the records currently held by the Burj Khalifa:

• Tallest building: 828 m (2,716 ft 6 in)
• Most floors in a building: 163
• Highest outdoor observation deck: 555.7 m (1,823 ft 1.9 in)
• Highest fireworks on a building: Set on New Year's Eve 2015 when fireworks erupted from every side of the top of the building
• Tallest freestanding structure: 828 m (2,716 ft 6 in)
• Largest LED-illuminated façade: 44,956.77 m² (483,910 sq ft)
• Highest residential apartments: 385 m (1,263 ft)
• Tallest man-made structure on land: 828 m (2,716 ft 6 in)
• Tallest man-made structure on land ever: 828 m (2,716 ft 6 in)

The construction of Jeddah Tower is reportedly expected to cost around $1.23 billion. Positioned on the north side of Jeddah, it will serve as the centrepiece of the Jeddah Economic City project, formerly known as Kingdom City, encompassing a 5,202,570 m² (56,000,000 sq ft) site of commercial and residential properties with an estimated cost of $20 billion.

Despite five years of inactivity, the construction of Jeddah Tower resumed in 2023, and no firm timeline for completion has been announced. If the reported size and facilities of Jeddah Tower materialize, it appears likely that the Burj Khalifa could relinquish some of its record titles.