Rise Tower

Rise Tower
برج رايز
General information
StatusProposed
LocationRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates24°50′20″N 46°37′05″E / 24.838844°N 46.618058°E / 24.838844; 46.618058
CostUS$5 billion
Height
Height2,008 m (6,588 ft)
Technical details
Floor count678
Design and construction
Architecture firm
Foster and Partners,
HKS Architects
DeveloperPublic 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 at 829 m (2,720 ft) and Jeddah Tower at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) to become the world’s tallest building or structure.

Location and site

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). and the capital’s northern growth corridor. Popular-press explainers describe the district as a large “city of the future” concept anchored by a central business hub.

Overview

Concept design of Rise Tower

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. 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.

Design

Competition reporting and early renders attribute the concept design to Foster + Partners. 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. 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.

Status

As of October 2026, no formal groundbreaking date, contract awards, or definitive specifications have been announced by the developer or PIF beyond reported tender activity. PIF’s public list of giga-projects does not presently include North Pole or Rise Tower, indicating the scheme remains at proposal/competition stage.

Images

See also

References

  1. 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.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bidding starts for 'North Pole' surrounding Foster + Partners' 2km Riyadh megatall". Archinect. March 23, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Saudi Arabia plans 2km megatall tower in Riyadh". MEED. December 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Saudi PIF is planning to build a 2-km tall tower in Riyadh – report". Zawya. December 8, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "3 tower projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE set to be 'taller than Burj Khalifa'". Gulf News. September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ "What's happening with The North Pole in Riyadh, Saudi?". Hotelier Middle East. August 15, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Rise Tower Riyadh to be the world's tallest building". Time Out Riyadh. August 19, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Giga-Projects". Public Investment Fund. Retrieved September 13, 2025.