Jeddah Tower: Work restarts on world’s tallest tower, 14 firms bid for contract

Some of companies bidding for the contract include Almabani, China State, El-Seif Engineering, Samsung C+T, and more

The Jeddah Economic Company (JEC) has resumed construction on the ambitious Jeddah Tower project, reported MEED. The tower aims to become the world’s tallest building at over 1,000 metres in height.

A source familiar with the project stated: “The tower, exceeding 1,000 metres in height, is now in full swing.”

The developer has initiated the process of soliciting bids from contractors for the project’s completion, with a deadline for bids set for the end of this year. Kingdom Holding Company CEO Talal Ibrahim Almaiman confirmed the issuance of the official tender when contacted by MEED.

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The companies invited to bid for the contract include:

  • Almabani (local)
  • Bawani (local)
  • China Harbour (China)
  • China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China)
  • Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC – Lebanon)
  • El-Seif Engineering Contracting (local)
  • Hyundai Engineering Construction (South Korea)
  • Mohammed Abdulmohsin al-Kharafi & Sons (Kuwait)
  • Nesma & Partners (local)
  • Powerchina (China)
  • Samsung C+T (South Korea)
  • Saudi Freyssinet (local)
  • Skanska (Sweden)
  • Strabag (Europe)

Contractors have been granted a three-month window to prepare their bids, with the expectation that these firms will establish partnerships involving both local and international participants. Notably, site visits have been conducted by the contractors.

Before issuing the tender, JEC took the initiative to commission an impartial assessment of the structure. The foundational and piling work for the groundbreaking tower has been successfully completed.

The construction of the tower’s superstructure, which commenced in the early 2010s with the local Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) as the contractor, has now achieved one-third completion. The piling work for the tower was skillfully executed by Germany’s Bauer.

JEC has initiated the process of invoking the performance guarantees or bonds provided by SBG, with these bonds totaling $174 million (SR653 million), as confirmed by a source closely connected to the project. Almaiman, the developer, has also confirmed the exercise of contractual rights after granting the contractor a five-year window for re-engagement.

Although SBG is no longer the project’s contractor, the consulting team remains consistent. The architect is Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill, headquartered in the United States, and the engineering consultant is Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) from Lebanon.

JEC’s shareholder makeup includes the Kingdom Holding Company, holding a 40% stake, the Bakhsh Group, also with a 40% stake, and the Sharbatly Group, possessing a 20% share.

Jeddah Tower is on track to exceed Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by an impressive 172 metres in height, making it the centerpiece of the Jeddah Economic City development. The initial phase of the project, encompassing the main tower, spans an expansive 1.5 square kilometres.