World's second tallest building to open in Saudi

March 11, 2010 - Saudi Arabia

The world's second tallest building will be opened next August in Saudi Arabia, Meed has reported.

The 577-metre Makkah Clock Royal Tower will be 59 metres taller than the 508-metre tall Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan, but 251 metres shorter than the Dubai's 828-metre tall Burj Khalifa.

Developed by the Saudi Bin Laden Group, the tower is a part of the 4.5 million-square-metre, Abraaj al-Bayt complex, of the Kingdom Holding Co.

At the center of the complex will also be The Fairmont hotel an upgrading project called the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project for the area around Two Holy Mosques.

"The newly developed property, Makkah Clock Royal Tower in Saudi Arabia, will be a key destination for visitors from the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East, strengthening the popularity of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts with travelers from the region," the hotel group said in a statement.

The tower will also include the Lunar Observation Center and Islamic Museum.

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