A True Story about Saudi Arabia and Dubai (Emirates)

2016

Dubai man: We have the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is nearly 830 metres tall. It has 163 levels.

Saudi Arabian man: Hahaha, not for long. We are building the highest tower in the world. The Jeddah Tower will be 1008 metres high.

Dubai man: You are wrong. We are building the highest tower in the world! The tallest man-made building in the world! Can you imagine that? Only we can do it!

Saudi Arabian man: How tall will it be?

Dubai man: It will be more than one kilometre high. I don’t want to tell you how high, because we don’t want you to plan an even taller building.

Saudi Arabian man: Is it a joke? It is not possible to build anything higher than one kilometre. People get ill, their ears ring when they travel that high.

Dubai man: We will show you that it's possible. We are better than you.

Plan of the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia	Plan of the Creek Tower in Dubai

2022

Saudi Arabian man: We had to stop the works on the Jeddah tower. It is very-very expensive, and we just have run out of money. We managed to build 300 metres. Now we have to find money to finish it.

Dubai man: Seriously? Good news! We can also stop building the Creek Tower then. We just finished the very first levels. Let us know when you start to build again. We will also start. Ours will be the tallest building in the world.

Saudi Arabian man: You are wrong. We will always build a taller building. We are better than you.

Dubai man: No, you are not. We are better than you. We will build a building that reaches to the stars.

Saudi Arabian man: You are crazy.

Dubai man: You are crazy, too.

• Why are some countries building very tall buildings?
• Why do rich countries in Europe don't want to build tall buildings?
• What is good about tall buildings? What is bad?
• What are in tall buildings? Answer