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"Big things are coming to Saudi Arabia.\nThe Middle Eastern country is set to begin visible construction next week on what is expected to be the world's tallest building at 3,280 feet, according to Construction Weekly.\nSee also: There's a Ford Mustang on the Empire State Building, But Good Luck Seeing It\nKingdom Tower will be 568 feet taller than Khalifa Tower, the current Guinness World Record holder in neighboring Dubai, once it is completed. The tower is the first phase of Jeddah Economic Company's approximately $20 billion, 17 million-square-foot Kingdom City project, of which it will be the focal point. Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a nephew of Saudi King Abdullah, is chairman of the Kingdom Holding Company, a partner in JEC.\n\"Our vision for Kingdom Tower is one that represents the new spirit of Saudi Arabia,\" Adrian Smith, cofounder of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the firm that designed the tower, said in a\u00A0press release. \"This tower symbolizes the Kingdom as an important global business and cultural leader, and demonstrates the strength and creative vision of its people.\"\nFoundation work for the $1.2 billion skyscraper began in December, and above-ground work will start April 27. The 200-floor tower will be located in Jeddah, a culturally significant city near the Red Sea that is known as the gateway to Mecca.\nA building this size doesn't come without its challenges, however. Concerns include resistance to salt water and high winds, as well as how concrete will be delivered to higher floors, as the tower is erected. The construction site itself is 5.7 million square feet, and the project will require around 80,000 tons of steel, according to the Saudi Gazette. Despite these potential roadblocks, the skyscraper is still a realistic undertaking that could eventually be seen through to completion,\u00A0Construction Weekly\u00A0reported.\nKingdom Tower will house a Four Seasons hotel, luxury condominiums, office space and an observatory.\n\n\nKingdom Tower\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKingdom Tower, which will stand at more than 3,000 feet when it is completed, is shown here in a rendering.\n\nImage:  Jeddah Economic Company/Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA bird's-eye view of Kingdom Tower shows the astronomical height of the skyscraper.\n\nImage:  Jeddah Economic Company/Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVisitors to Kingdom Tower will be able to soak up breathtaking views from a sky terrace.\n\nImage:  Jeddah Economic Company/Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFoundation construction of the gigantic skyscraper began in December. Visible work will commence on April 27.\n\nImage:  Jeddah Economic Company/Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKingdom Tower will be part of the $20 billion Kingdom City project.\n\nImage:  Jeddah Economic Company/Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe skyscraper will be located in Jeddah, Saudi Araba, a culturally important city considered the gateway to Mecca.\n\nImage:  Jeddah Economic Company/Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIts towering height is even more astonishing from the ground.\n\nImage:  Jeddah Economic Company/Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnd especially when you can take it all in at once.\n\nImage:  Jeddah Economic Company/Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/04/19/kingdom-tower-tallest-building/>