February 25, 2008 10:25

Tales From the Arabian Heights

Check it out: Dubai's ambitious ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has some serious competition.

He is extremely determined to build the world's tallest skyscraper in his booming city state. Last summer, I traveled up a site elevator the week the Burj Dubai hit 509 meters and surpassed Tapei 101 as the highest building on the planet. Seven months later, it's risen to about 600 meters. It's expected to go another 100-200 meters, though the exact plan is being kept secret. Some wags here say the Burj's slim design kind of resembles an extended middle finger, as if Dubai is telling would-be challengers to back off.

Now, however, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud is reportedly planning a tower in Jeddah that will be twice that height. Envisioned to reach 1,600 meters, it's being called the Mile High Tower. According to the Middle East business magazine MEED, a final decision on the project is imminent and tenders could follow in the coming few months. Alwaleed previously built Kingdom Tower, currently the tallest building in Saudi Arabia. It's a mere 302 meters, but it does have the distinction of resembling the world's largest bottle opener.

Hey guys, have fun with it.

--By Scott MacLeod/Dubai