KSA : Kingdom Tower (Mile-High Tower)

[Bubblegum Crisis]

World’s tallest tower in Jeddah to be ready in 63 months

Author: ARAB NEWS
Monday 16 April 2012

JEDDAH: Jeddah's Kingdom Tower, set to become the world’s tallest building, will be completed in 63 months, according to Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) Chairman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

His remarks came as the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC) yesterday announced a capital increase from SR7.3 billion to SR8.8 billion for the mega project that includes the 1,000m high Kingdom Tower.

Prince Alwaleed, who initiated and has been the driving force behind the decision to build the tower, announced an investment of SR1.5 billion from the Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) for a 16.63 percent stake in Jeddah Economic Company, owner of the Jeddah mega project.

The Kingdom Tower will be the centerpiece and the first construction phase of Kingdom City Jeddah — new urban development of more than 5.3 million sq m of land in the north of Jeddah, overlooking the Red Sea and Obhur Creek.

The contract for construction of the tower was signed with SBG for SR4.6 billion ($1.2 billion) and the overall estimated cost of the entire Kingdom City Jeddah project is anticipated to be SR75 billion ($20 billion).

The Jeddah Economic Company was set up in 2009 to develop the Kingdom City. Its partners are Kingdom Holding Company (a stake of 33.35 percent), Saudi Binladin Group with (16.63 percent stake), Abraar International Holding Company represented by Samaual Bakhsh (33.35 percent stake) and prominent Jeddah businessman Abdulrahman Hassan Sharbatly (16.67 percent stake).

The final license to construct the tower was formally received from the Jeddah municipality on Feb. 19.

"The vision of constructing the tallest tower in the world in Jeddah belongs to Prince Alwaleed, who was closely involved in the selection of the scheme currently under design," said Talal Al-Maiman, executive director, development and domestic investments, a board member of Kingdom Holding Company and a board member of Jeddah Economic Company.

"We were impressed by the boldness and simplicity of the AS+GG design. Kingdom Tower's height is remarkable, obviously, but the building's iconic status will not depend solely on that aspect. Its form is brilliantly sculpted, making it quite simply the most beautiful building in the world of any height," said Al-Maiman in a press release from KHC.

"The decision of the partners to build the world's tallest building further demonstrates their belief in investing in this nation."

With a total construction area of over 500,000 square meters, the Kingdom Tower will be a mixed-use building featuring a Four Seasons Hotel, Four Seasons serviced apartments, first class office space, luxury condominiums and an observatory that will be higher than the world's current highest observation deck.

"We intend Kingdom Tower to become both an economic engine and a proud symbol of the Kingdom's economic and cultural stature in the world community," said Al-Maiman.

"Kingdom Tower will be a landmark structure that will greatly increase the value of other properties around it in Kingdom City and indeed throughout North Jeddah."

A joint statement from Sharbatly and Bakhsh said: "We are confident that upon completion, Kingdom Tower will become one of the world's great tourist destinations as well as one of the most attractive places to live and work in the region. In the meantime, we believe this project will create thousands of jobs, spurring the local economy."

In addition to its status as an architectural landmark and economic symbol, Kingdom Tower will enjoy great cultural significance.

"We envision Kingdom Tower as a new iconic marker of Jeddah's historic importance as the traditional gateway to the holy city of Makkah," said Al-Maiman said. He noted that the southeast leg of Kingdom Tower's tripedal base is on a direct line with the Kaaba in Makkah, Islam's holiest site.

An interdisciplinary team led by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), based in Chicago, created the design of the Kingdom Tower.

The team also included building services engineering consultants, Environmental Systems Design and structural engineering consultants, Thornton Tomasetti, engineer of three of the world's top 10 tallest buildings.

Jeddah Economic Company selected the AS+GG scheme after a lengthy competition process in which SOM, Pickard Chilton, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Pelli Clarke Pelli and Foster + Partners also participated.

Skeleton of Kingdom Tower (concrete and steel) ^^

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

Tallest tower 'needs guts to do' says Alwaleed

By Anil Bhoyrul
Wednesday, 3 August 2011 7:44 AM

Building the world’s tallest tower – with a height over 1km – needs “strength and guts to do”, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed said Tuesday.

Speaking to Arabian Business just hours after signing a $1.2bn deal to construct Kingdom Tower, the prince said: “These are the kind of projects l like to do – they are transformational and have an impact. These big projects need vision, strength and guts to do.”

He added: “It is about testing yourself, always pushing yourself to the limit, not sitting back and accepting the status quo.”

Once completed, Kingdom Tower will easily surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which is currently the world’s tallest building with a height of 828m.

Binladin Group, one of the kingdom’s biggest contractors, has won the contract for the tower. Foundation drawings for the structure are complete and piling work for the tower currently being tendered.

Asked whether he was concerned the project was being undertaken amid global economic uncertainty, Prince Alwaleed said: “Why this project now? And in the period when much of the world is still coming out of recession, people say ‘why now?’ Because we have confidence in our Saudi economy, and our market. I believe in the future strength of the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia and its leadership.”

With a total construction area of more than 500,000 sq m, Kingdom Tower will be a mixed-use building featuring a Four Seasons hotel, Four Seasons serviced apartments, office space, luxury condominiums and an observatory expected to take the title of the world’s highest observation deck.

The complex will contain 59 elevators, including 54 single-deck and five double-deck elevators, along with 12 escalators. Elevators serving the observatory will travel at a rate of 10 meters per second in both directions.

Media reports earlier this year had suggested that the tower could be as large as 1,600m tall, making it twice as high as its nearest competitor.

The Tower will be the centerpiece and the first construction phase of Kingdom City. The urban development by Jeddah Economic Company’s (JEC) spans more than 5.3 million sq m in the north of Jeddah, overlooking the Red Sea and Obhur Creek.

The Binladin deal to build the tower was signed Tuesday by Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), one of Kingdom’s associate firms. The contractor also takes a 16.63 percent ownership of JEC.

Kingdom Holding holds 33.35 percent of JEC, alongside Abrar International Holding (33.35 percent) and Abdurrahman Sharbatly (16.67 percent).


Arabian Business

REUTERS
August 2, 2011

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal speaks near a model of the world's tallest tower during a news conference in Riyadh August 2, 2011. Prince Alwaleed unveiled plans on Tuesday to build the world's tallest tower in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, signing a 4.6 billion riyal ($1.23 billion) contract with Bin Laden Group.

“These big projects need vision, strength and guts to do.”

















Saudi Binladin Group

See old link:

Saudi’s giant clock to establish ‘Makkah Time’

http://www.defence.pk/forums/middle...audi-s-giant-clock-establish-makkah-time.html

Kingdom eyes loans, cash to build Jeddah supertall

by CW Staff on Aug 7, 2011

Kingdom Holding Co, controlled by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, said it will use a mix of bank financing, cash and revenue from the project to build the world’s tallest tower in Jeddah.

The Kingdom Tower will be built in three phases and there will be an equity capital of SR1.5bn, the company said. The tower is expected to cost $1.2bn to build, significantly less than $1.5bn cost of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

Kingdom Holding has hired Saudi Binladin Group to construct the building that will replace the Burj Khalifa as the world’s tallest tower.

The Binladin Group will contribute SR1.5bn to develop the project, Prince Alwaleed told reporters on August 2.

Initial designs for the Jeddah-based Kingdom Tower show a mixed-used building featuring a Four Seasons hotel, an observation deck and office space, served by 59 elevators.

Media reports earlier this year had suggested that the tower could be as large as 1,600m tall, making it twice as high as its nearest competitor.

Prince Alwaleed told Arabian Business last week the project would be “transformational”.

“These are the kind of projects l like to do,” he said. “These big projects need vision, strength and guts to do.”


Construction Week

Kingdom Holding Co. completes sale of part of Kingdom Riyadh Land for SAR250m

Saudi Arabia: Monday, October 08 - 2012 at 10:25

Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud announces the signing of the agreement for the sale of part of Kingdom Riyadh Land located east of the Saudi Arabia capital, Riyadh, on September 30, 2012 and had been set aside to be completed by other developers.

The area to be developed, was bought by Subul Development Co. for SAR250m The estimated profit from the sale is SAR143.7m.

Prince Alwaleed: "The estimated Net Profit from the sale is SAR144m."

On February 9th, 2011, KHC announced that Omrania & Associates was awarded the contract for the master planning & infrastructure design for "Kingdom Oasis Riyadh Land," a 16-million square-meter plot owned by the company on the Riyadh-Dammam Highway. The contract includes conducting traffic and environmental impact studies, as well as other studies required to complement and complete the Master Plan. They will also serve in the role of local master planner, including liaising with local authorities. In addition, Omrania will be carrying out the supervision of the infrastructure work on site expected to commence shortly.

Hart Howerton (HH) was awarded the design of the master plan for the 3.8-million-square-meter "Kingdom Oasis Riyadh Land" at the eastern side of the land. As part of their scope of work, HH will produce concept architectural studies for the Hotel, Gentleman's Retreat, Women's Spa and Branded Villas. The preliminary master plan was submitted to Riyadh Municipality and their comments have been addressed by HH.

Kingdom Oasis will also include a second Four Seasons Hotel and Resort in Riyadh. The hotel will be taking advantage of a 75,000m2 man-made lake with a magnificent waterfront and lush green areas surrounding it. The design will have its roots in the Arab architectural tradition, with more relaxed elements in a Mediterranean resort style.

The Four Seasons will offer a world class luxury hotel of approximately 43 rooms and suites, a variety of food and entertainment venues, a full service destination spa for both males and females and a fitness center. The open air water front promenade and lakeside pathways will link all guests and Private Residents together within the Resort emphasizing the sense of a community lifestyle. Also a signature Tent has been developed to host weddings and other events within a space of 2,500 square meters.

In providing the most unique environment in Riyadh, the Four Seasons will offer the opportunity to purchase one of 75 world class luxury Private Residence Villas. The Private Residences will be approximately 450 square meters in size with the option of purchasing the unit fully furnished by Four Season's highest standards.

KHC is also leading the development of the second "Kingdom City" compound project in Riyadh that will be developed within the Oasis. This was inspired by the rapid success of the first compound which is fully occupied and has a long waiting list.

"Kingdom City 2" will have units range from luxury four bedroom villas with private pools to studio and guest houses, with amenities including restaurants, pools and sports recreational areas, supermarkets, shops, a business center, a medical clinic and a school and will be developed to allow residents to take advantage of the other projects taking place adjacent to it. The Real Estate Investment Company, Ltd. (REIC) owns and operates both Kingdom cities.

Moreover, KHC has signed an agreement with Saudi Telecom Company (STC) to provide Telecom Infrastructure for Kingdom Riyadh Land. The agreement sets the foundation for establishing a smart city based on information and communication technology.


AME info

Kingdom City Jeddah

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

See also old link :

‘Kuwait : Al Hamra Tower’

http://www.defence.pk/forums/middle-east-africa/192176-kuwait-al-hamra-tower.html

 

[al-Hasani]

Thank you 7abibi but there is already a thread about this great project. But this information and video is great so I think we should keep it or at least move it to the other thread.

 

[Rangila]

Video (Saudi Tower) killed the radio star (Dubai Burj tower).

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

Thank you 7abibi but there is already a thread about this great project. But this information and video is great so I think we should keep it or at least move it to the other thread.

Not agree.

Video (Saudi Tower) killed the radio star (Dubai Burj tower).

Oh! Yes. ^^

Yes! Yes! Yes!

 

[al-Hasani]

Not agree.




Oh! Yes. ^^

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Ok, you are right this deserves two threads although I was of the impression that only one thread per each topic is allowed.

 

[Mercenary]

How ironic would it be if a bunch of terrorists fly a couple of planes into this building.

 

[Imran Khan]

all i can see wall is ready in north obhur they got the land hope ASAP work start on that land . heey its in front of runway if you takeoff from 34L or land 16R of jeddah airport specially for A380 or B747

 

[Toothless]

At last I could play final fantasy in real life

 

[JUBA]

How ironic would it be if a bunch of terrorists fly a couple of planes into this building.

So flying planes into buildings is ironic to you ? i see.

 

[Mosamania]

At last I could play final fantasy in real life

Hahahaha do you mean that tower in Final Fantasy 7? Or the Final Fantasy 13?

 

[Hyperion]

Wohaaaaa looks amazing.... and the best part, you'd get a chance to troll the narcissistic Emiratis!

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Seems like a wonderful project

 

[Kompromat]

@Mosamania @Arabian Legend @Bubblegum Crisis

Only, fear i have is that if the aliens come around, they might take this building for a middle finger in their face and might not be so kind to us.