Plans for a mile-high tower in the desert, which would be twice the height of the world’s tallest building, have been unveiled by the multi-billionaire owner of the Savoy hotel in London.

The building, masterminded by British-based engineers, will be constructed in a “mini-city” near the Red Sea port of Jeddah. The project, almost seven times the height of the Canary Wharf tower, will overtake skyscrapers planned or under construction in Dubai and Kuwait. It means the Middle East has opened a strong gap over east Asia in the race for the world’s tallest building.

The Mile High Tower is the brainchild of Prince al-Walid bin Talal, 51, a member of the Saudi royal family, who has a fortune estimated at £11 billion and is the world’s 19th richest person, according to Forbes magazine. Al-Walid’s Kingdom Holdings has appointed a joint venture set up by Hyder Consulting and Arup, the London enginerring firms, to build the £5 billion tower.

The logistics of carrying out construction at such a height will make the project technically and financially difficult. The tower must be capable of conquering extremes of temperature as well as powerful desert winds.

The building will be fitted with a giant computer-operated damper stretching down several floors – to counter the nausea-inducing sway caused by the wind. The building will also be stabilised by two mini-towers, flanking the building’s base and attached to the main structure by arched sky-bridges.

Al-Walid bought the Savoy, in the Strand, London, for £1.25 billion in 2005. He caused some controversy by selling off its historic fixtures and fittings in an auction which fetched more than £1.8m. The hotel is due to reopen later this year after a complete refurbishment.

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