The World's Tallest Tower in Saudi Arabia

Shard builder lands deal to help construct world's tallest tower

Mace, the company behind London skyscraper The Shard, is setting its sights even higher with a contract to project manage the £780m construction of the world's tallest building.  

The London-based company will participate in a joint venture with fellow British company EC Harris to create the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia.

Mace's contract to help construct the tower, which will stand at more than 3,280 ft (1km high), comes after it built both the London Eye and The Shard.

London's Shard skyscraper, which opened to the public this year, stands at just 1,016 ft and is Europe's second-tallest tower after Moscow's Mercury City Tower.

Kingdom Tower will soar above The Shard and the 2,722 ft Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which currently holds the title of the world's tallest building.

The Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), which appointed EC Harris and Mace to provide project, commercial and design management, said the vision for the building belonged to Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.

JEC's chief executive officer, Waleed Abdul Jaleel Batterjee, said: "His vision is also that the project itself will set the world's sights on our beloved Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and particularly on Jeddah."

Construction work is due to start on site later this year and the tower is due to be completed within five years. A team led by a Chicago firm of architects designed the tower.

Mark Reynolds, chief executive of Mace, said: ““Kingdom Tower is a project of international importance and immense ambition and we are delighted to be part of the Joint Venture team tasked with its delivery.

"As the client’s project manager, I am confident we will deliver a development exemplary in innovation and approach.”

Keith Brooks, head of property and social infrastructure at EC Harris, said: “The Kingdom Tower is a landmark building that will clearly demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to the world.”