A joint venture of the UK-based EC Harris/Mace has been awarded the project management contract to oversee the development of the world’s tallest tower at Kingdom City in Jeddah.

When completed, the 1-kilometre-high Kingdom Tower will be the world’s tallest tower. The Kingdom Tower will be almost 200 metres taller than Emaar’s 828m Burj Khalifa, which is currently the world’s tallest building. The Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), the client for the development, had received proposals from project management firms in October last year.

In August 2011, the local Saudi Binladin Group was awarded the estimated SR4.6bn ($1.2bn) contract to build the Kingdom Tower. The tower is being designed by US-based Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill Architecture.

In August 2012, the US’ Landtech Design was awarded a contract to design elements of the landscaping around the Kingdom Tower project in Jeddah. The US firm has been appointed to provide consultancy services on the landscape irrigation design.