Dubai's Burj Khalifa will no longer be world's tallest tower as THIS country is building..., not US, China or India but...., its height will be...
Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Tower surpass Dubai's Burj Khalifa: In a matter of viral news that is getting worldwide attention, Saudi Arabia has officially resumed the construction of the Jeddah Tower, aimed to break all existing records as the world's tallest structure, Burj Khalifa. For those unversed, the Burj Khalifa, with a total height of 828 m, is a megatall skyscraper located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is currently called the world's tallest structure. Readers should note that the Jeddah Tower was initially launched in 2013 and then stalled due to financial and political challenges. However, now, the construction of Jeddah Tower has finally resumed in Saudi Arabia. Will Saudi's Jeddah Tower surpass Dubai's Burj Khalifa?
As per media reports, the ambitious $2.6 billion project is set to exceed 1,000 meters in height, dethroning Dubai's Burj Khalifa (828 meters) as the tallest building on Earth. More importantly, the tower designed by renowned architect Adrian Smith will not only make headlines due to its height but also having a multifunctional space that will house luxury residences, a Four Seasons hotel, office spaces, and retail outlets.
The revival of the tower is also seen as a sign of improved investor confidence in Saudi Arabia as the country struggles with depleting crude oil reserves. India, Saudi Arabia bolster bilateral ties
Meanwhile, Union Health and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister, JP Nadda visited Saudi Arabia, highlighting strong economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the chemicals and fertilisers sector, an official statement was quoted by a report by news agency IANS.
A a part of the visit, JP Nadda led a high-level delegation for the two-day official visit over the weekend. The minister held discussions with the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al Khorayef, in Riyadh on mechanisms to strengthen partnership in fertilisers, petrochemicals and pharmaceutical sectors, the report said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Both record attempts were led and organized by Umit Sabanci, a London-based entrepreneur who played a major role in planning and driving the journeys. The Technology Behind the Achievement At the core of the Lucid Air Grand Touring's breakthrough lies a suite of cutting-edge electric systems: WLTP Range : 960 km Energy Consumption : 13.5 kWh per 100 km Power Output : 831 PS Top Speed : 270 km/h Ultra-Fast Charging : Gains up to 400 km of range in just 16 minutes The car was assembled at Lucid's Saudi Advanced Manufacturing Plant in King Abdullah Economic City, launched in 2023, aiming for 155,000 vehicles annually/ Image: Lucid The range and efficiency demonstrated by the Lucid Air Grand Touring were achieved under real-world driving conditions, not just lab testing. The vehicle's high-voltage architecture, combined with a sophisticated battery management system, played a central role in maximizing energy use and extending the distance traveled on a single charge. Eric Bach, Lucid's Senior Vice President of Product and Chief Engineer, described the range milestone as an important achievement that highlights the technological advantage Lucid holds in the electric vehicle industry. Lucid's Operations and Commitments in the Kingdom Lucid's headquarters are in California, but the company's long-term growth is closely linked to Saudi Arabia. Its largest shareholder, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), owns about 60% of the company and has positioned Lucid as a key part of the Kingdom's industrial strategy under Vision 2030. In September 2023, Lucid began final assembly of electric vehicles at its first international manufacturing facility in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). The plant processed 800 vehicles in its initial phase, with plans to scale up production to 150,000 units annually. Under a government agreement, Lucid is also set to supply 100,000 electric vehicles to Saudi Arabia over the next decade. This initiative is intended to support the local market and build capacity for future exports. The latest endurance record reflects not only Lucid's technical progress but also Saudi Arabia's broader efforts to develop a competitive electric vehicle industry. A Wider EV Ecosystem Taking Shape Saudi Arabia is actively building a comprehensive EV ecosystem, with Lucid at the center, but it's one part of a wider effort. Several other notable projects and partnerships are also shaping the foundation of the Kingdom's electric vehicle sector: Ceer and the Birth of Saudi-Made EVs A second EV company, Ceer, is also backed by the PIF in a joint venture with Taiwan's Foxconn. Ceer is building a $1.3 billion manufacturing complex in KAEC, covering 1 million square meters, with zones dedicated to every stage of vehicle production. The cars will incorporate BMW technology, and aim to establish a fully Saudi-based EV manufacturing ecosystem from the ground up. BYD Enters the Saudi Market In a separate but parallel development, Chinese EV giant BYD, now the world's top-selling electric vehicle brand — has entered Saudi Arabia through a partnership with Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company. During a multi-city launch across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran, BYD introduced a range of models including the luxury BYD HAN, the performance-driven BYD SEAL, and the hybrid BYD SONG PLUS. Building Charging Infrastructure: EVIQ Recognizing that EVs are only as viable as their infrastructure, the PIF launched the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ) with an ambitious target: 5,000 fast chargers across 1,000 locations by 2030. These will be placed in cities and along major roadways, adhering to strict technical standards and safety codes. NEOM's Autonomous Future And beyond EVs, Saudi Arabia is also investing in autonomous mobility. The NEOM Investment Fund has committed $100 million to a leading player in self-driving technology. The deal includes co-development of autonomous vehicles and intelligent transport systems for NEOM, and potentially for wider use across the Middle East.
