Saudi investment company Kingdom Holding is approaching more contractors for the deal to design and build its planned 1-kilometre-tall Kingdom Tower in Jeddah.

In September, Kingdom Holding had shortlisted three contracting groups for the deal. They were South Korea’s Samsung Corporation with Dubai-based Arabtec Construction, Australia’s Multiplex, and the Saudi Binladin Group.

Contractors had expected the contract to be awarded within weeks, but according to sources close to the project the developer now wants to consider additional proposals from other contracting groups that may offer a lower price.

Kingdom had also shortlisted various consultancy groups in September. They were the US’ Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill Architecture, and US-based Pickard Chilton in partnership with UK-based Hyder Consulting (MEED 11:9:09).

If Kingdom Holding goes ahead with the ambitious project, it will replace the 818-metre Burj Dubai as the world’s tallest building.

The Capital Market Authority is also planning a smaller high-rise project at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh.

It is prequalifying contractors to build a 400-metre-high headquarters building. This structure will be higher than the 309-metre Kingdom Tower, currently the tallest building in Riyadh.