Rise Tower
| Rise Tower | |
|---|---|
برج رايز | |
 Interactive map of the Rise Tower area | |
General information | |
| Status | Proposed |
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Coordinates | 24°50′20″N 46°37′05″E / 24.838844°N 46.618058°E |
Construction started | 2027 |
| Cost | US$5 billion |
| Height | |
| Height | 2,008 m (6,588 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 678 |
| Design and construction | |
Architecture firm | Foster and Partners, HKS Architects |
| Developer | Public Investment Fund |
Rise Tower (Arabic: برج رايز) is a proposed megatall skyscraper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Planned to be the first two-kilometre-tall building, it would surpass both Burj Khalifa by 1,172 m (3,845 ft) and Jeddah Tower by 1,000 m (3,300 ft) to become the world’s tallest building or structure.[1][2]
Location and site
[edit]Rise Tower is sited in North Riyadh within a broader mixed-use masterplan widely reported as the "North Pole" district, with proximity to King Khalid International Airport (KKIA).[3][4] and the capital’s northern growth corridor.[1][2] Popular-press explainers describe the district as a large “city of the future” concept anchored by a central business hub.[5][6]
Overview
[edit]In December 2022, industry publications like MEED reported that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) was considering a plan to build a record-breaking tower as part of an approximately 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi) development in North Riyadh, with preliminary cost estimates around US$5 billion.[3][4] In August 2023, almost six months after the announcement of New Murabba project, the designs of Rise Tower were unveiled by Mohammed al-Qahtani, the CEO of Saudi Arabia Holding Company. In 2025, coverage shifted to procurement: reporting mentioned tendering for the North Pole district and a ~2 km tower concept attributed to Foster + Partners.[1][2]
Design
[edit]Competition reporting and early renders attribute the concept design to Foster + Partners.[1] A 2-kilometre target height and a 678-storey programme have been reported by the trade press; official detailed specifications have not yet been published by the proponent.[1][2] The tower is positioned as a centrepiece for a new business district intended to complement major Riyadh initiatives in the lead-up to Expo 2030.[7][8]
Status
[edit]As of August 2026, no formal groundbreaking date, contract awards, or definitive specifications have been announced by the developer or PIF beyond reported tender activity.[1][2] PIF’s public list of giga-projects does not presently include North Pole or Rise Tower, indicating the scheme remains at proposal/competition stage.[9]
Images
[edit]- Concept rendering (Day aerial): https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gx_vAWcWMAEbtLM?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
- Concept rendering (daytime ground view): https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gx_u6-4WwAAc_Bj?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rogers, David (March 21, 2025). "Bidding opens for Saudi Arabia's 2km-tall tower". Global Construction Review. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Bidding starts for 'North Pole' surrounding Foster + Partners' 2km Riyadh megatall". Archinect. March 23, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- 1 2 "Saudi Arabia plans 2km megatall tower in Riyadh". MEED. December 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- 1 2 "Saudi PIF is planning to build a 2-km tall tower in Riyadh – report". Zawya. December 8, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Skyscraper four times the height of the Empire State Building? What to know about Saudi Arabia's Rise Tower". Newsweek. June 12, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ↑ "3 tower projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE set to be 'taller than Burj Khalifa'". Gulf News. September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ↑ "What's happening with The North Pole in Riyadh, Saudi?". Hotelier Middle East. August 15, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Rise Tower Riyadh to be the world's tallest building". Time Out Riyadh. August 19, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Giga-Projects". Public Investment Fund. Retrieved September 13, 2025.