Kingdom Centre Tower, Riyadh (must see)

The Kingdom Centre, formerly known as Kingdom Tower, stands tall in Riyadh as a 99-story skyscraper, reaching a height of 302.3 meters (992 feet). Completed in 2002, it surpassed the Faisaliyah Tower, measuring 267 meters (876 feet), to become the tallest tower in Saudi Arabia at the time. Notably, the Kingdom Centre is the world's third-tallest building with a hole, following the Shanghai World Financial Center and Taiwan's 85 Sky Tower.

Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal led the creation of this impressive architectural marvel. The design, brought to life by Ellerbe Becket and Omrania, was chosen through an international competition. The Kingdom Centre, sprawling over 100,000 square meters, includes a range of features like the 57,000-square-meter Al-Mamlaka shopping mall, offices, the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, and high-end apartments. At the top of the skyscraper sits a remarkable 65-meter sky bridge.

The upper portion of the tower showcases an inverted parabolic arch, culminating in a public sky bridge. Comprising a 300-ton steel structure, the sky bridge takes the form of an enclosed corridor adorned with windows on both sides. Visitors can access this level after paying the admission fees, using two elevators to reach the sky bridge.

The podium's East wing is home to the Al-Mamlaka shopping mall, which spans three levels and houses over 150 stores. These stores are divided to cater specifically to different demographics, with the first level targeting young people, the second focusing on fashion and furnishings, and the third level exclusively reserved for women. On the other hand, the West wing of the podium hosts event and entertainment spaces.

The construction of the Kingdom Center rests upon a robust four-meter-thick, 3,100-square-meter raft foundation. Its structural composition entails two systems: reinforced concrete columns, beams, and a core for the initial 180 meters, while a tubular steel frame structure supports the remainder of the building's height.