Top 10 Tallest Buildings in the World That Redefined Skylines

The tallest buildings in the world show how high modern buildings can reach. Supertall skyscrapers serve daily needs and demonstrate tremendous engineering advancements as cities grow denser.

This article ranks the ten tallest buildings by architectural height. It presents verified data on height, location, completion year, primary use, and ownership, and concludes with an outlook on the future of the world’s highest skyscrapers.

Note: Some skyscrapers share the same height in global rankings. To keep this list to a clear top 10, only one 530-meter tower was included. All figures are based on verified data from reputable skyscraper and construction sources.

1. Burj Khalifa: The Tallest Building in the World

At 828 meters (2,717 feet), the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is the tallest building ever built. Its needle-like form, which is visible from anywhere in the city, has come to symbolize Dubai's modern skyline. It has remained the world's highest structure in terms of architectural height since it opened its doors in 2010.

• Height: 828 m (2,717 ft)
• Location: Dubai, UAE
• Construction period: 2004-2010
• Floors: 163
• Primary use: Residential, hotel, office, observation
• Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) - Adrian Smith
• Owner: Emaar Properties
• Construction cost: $1.4 billion

Often called Burj Dubai, the tower relies on a buttressed core structural system, developed to handle powerful wind forces at extreme height. The building's unique silhouette is fashioned by its Y-shaped floor plan, which also aids in stability.

Burj Khalifa's position as the global benchmark for megatall construction is further cemented by the fact that it is nearly 150 meters higher than Merdeka 118, the second world’s highest building.

2. Merdeka 118: Malaysia’s New Landmark of Structural Ambition

Merdeka 118 is the second-tallest building in the world, reaching 678.9 meters (2,227 feet) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its name carries national meaning, combining its 118 floors with the Malay word merdeka, which means independence. Officially opened in 2023, it is also the tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia.

• Height: 678.9 m (2,227 ft)
• Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Construction period: 2014-2023
• Floors: 118
• Primary use: Offices, hotel, residential, observation
• Architect: Fender Katsalidis Architects (with RSP KL)
• Owner: PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd
• Construction cost: $1.5 billion

This tall building is defined by a diamond-shaped façade that catches light differently throughout the day. The height of Merdeka 118 is increased by a notable spire, which also gives it a clean, upright finish. Situated next to Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara, it unites one of the tallest structures in the world with sites central to Malaysia's history of independence.

In comparison, Merdeka 118 stands far taller than the Petronas Towers, which remain the world’s tallest twin towers at 451.9 meters (1,483 feet). Rising to 678.9 meters (2,227 feet), Merdeka 118 surpasses them by more than 200 meters.

3. Shanghai Tower: China’s Twisting Megatall in the Lujiazui Skyline

Shanghai Tower stands 632 meters (2,073 feet) in Shanghai, China. It is China’s tallest building and a defining feature of the Lujiazui financial district’s supertall skyline. What sets it apart is its dramatic twist, turning 120 degrees as it rises into the sky. The tower’s spiraling form is structurally significant, helping reduce wind loads during typhoons.

• Height: 632 m (2,073 ft)
• Location: Shanghai, China
• Construction period: 2008-2015
• Floors: 128
• Primary use: Offices, hotel, retail, observation
• Architect: Gensler - Jun Xia
• Owner: Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., Ltd.
• Construction cost: Approx. $2.4 billion

Inside, the 128-story Shanghai Tower is organized like a vertical city, divided into nine stacked zones. These zones bring together offices, retail areas, and a luxury hotel within one continuous tower.

Shanghai Tower also features high-speed elevators that were once ranked among the fastest in the world, carrying visitors quickly to its upper observation levels. A double-glass façade and wind turbines also help reduce energy use, while one of the world’s highest observation decks offers wide views across Shanghai’s skyline.

4. Makkah Royal Clock Tower: A Monumental Vertical Complex in Mecca

The Makkah Royal Clock Tower rises 601 meters (1,972 feet) in Saudi Arabia, and is impossible to miss above the city’s sacred center. The tower’s clock faces are so large they make London’s Big Ben look small by comparison. Opened in 2012, it is the fourth tallest building in the world and the centerpiece of the Abraj Al-Bait complex beside the Masjid al-Haram.

• Height: 601 m (1,972 ft)
• Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
• Construction period: 2002-2012
• Floors: 120
• Primary use: Hotel, serviced apartments, religious facilities, retail
• Architect: Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners
• Owner: Government of Saudi Arabia (King Abdulaziz Endowment)
• Construction cost: Approx. $16 billion

The Makkah Royal Clock Tower features the largest clock in the world, with faces measuring 43 meters (141 feet) in diameter, about 35 times larger than Big Ben. This skyscraper also contains one of the highest occupied spaces ever built, with a prayer room around 600 meters above ground. It sits above the Burj Khalifa’s highest occupied floor at roughly 585 meters.

Commissioned by King Abdullah, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower was designed to provide large-scale accommodation for pilgrims visiting Mecca for the Hajj within a single vertical landmark.

5. Ping An Finance Centre: Shenzhen’s Impeccable Office Skyscraper

The Ping An Finance Centre reaches 599 meters (1,965 feet) in Shenzhen, China. Visitors often notice how quickly the building moves people upward, with high-speed elevators reaching the upper floors in about 55 seconds. With more than 100 stories of office space, it reached its peak in 2017 and remains the world’s tallest office building.

• Height: 599 m (1,965 ft)
• Location: Shenzhen, China
• Construction period: 2009-2017
• Floors: 115 (plus 5 basement levels)
• Primary use: Offices, hotel, conference facilities, retail
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
• Owner: Ping An Life Insurance Company of China
• Construction cost: $13.5 billion (entire complex)

The North Tower includes offices, retail space, and the Free Sky observation deck high above the city. It stands approximately 150 meters taller than KK100, Shenzhen’s former tallest building, marking a major shift in the city’s vertical growth.

The Ping An Finance Centre also includes a shorter South Tower, but only the North Tower is counted in global height rankings. Both tall buildings were finished shortly before China introduced a 500-meter height limit for new skyscrapers in 2021.

6. Lotte World Tower: South Korea’s Pinnacle of Mixed-Use Design

The Lotte World Tower soars 555.7 meters (1,819 feet) in Seoul, standing as the tallest building in South Korea. Atop the bustling Jamsil district, it has grown into one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The tower is the heart of an expansive mixed-use development that culminated construction in 2016.

• Height: 555.7 m (1,819 ft)
• Location: Seoul, South Korea
• Construction period: 2011-2016
• Floors: 123 (plus 6 basement levels)
• Primary use: Residential, hotel, office, retail, observation
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
• Owner: Lotte Group
• Construction cost: $2.5 billion

The Lotte World Tower includes residential units, office space, and the Signiel Seoul hotel high above the city. It connects directly to the Lotte World Mall, which also contains an aquarium and a concert hall. Observation decks sit on floors 117 to 123, with glass-floor sections that let visitors look straight down from a remarkable height.

7. One World Trade Center: Rebuilding Height and Symbolism in New York

One World Trade Center rises 541.3 meters (1,776 feet) in New York City, making it the tallest building in the United States. Its height of 1,776 feet alludes to the United States' Declaration of Independence in 1776. As part of the World Trade Center site's reconstruction after the events of September 11, the building debuted in 2014.

• Height: 541.3 m (1,776 ft)
• Location: New York City, United States
• Construction period: 2006-2014
• Floors: 104
• Primary use: Office, observation, retail
• Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) — David Childs
• Owner: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
• Construction cost: $3.8 billion

The tower includes the public One World Observatory, offering sweeping views across Manhattan and beyond. It sits alongside the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and connects to a retail center and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub (Oculus). One World Trade Center was designed with enhanced safety and structural reinforcement systems for high-rise office use.

8. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre: A High-Speed Vertical City in Southern China

Soaring to a height of 530 meters (1,739 feet) in China, the Guangzhou CTF Finance Center, also called the Chow Tai Fook Center, stands out in the city's urban cityscape. One of China's booming business districts, Zhujiang New Town, is anchored by it. The skyscraper is renowned for fusing housing, retail, and hospitality into a single vertical structure.

• Height: 530 m (1,739 ft)
• Location: Guangzhou, China
• Construction period: 2010-2016
• Floors: 111 (plus 5 basement levels)
• Primary use: Offices, hotel, serviced apartments, retail
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
• Owner: Chow Tai Fook Enterprises
• Construction cost: $1.4 billion

Inside are offices, serviced apartments, the K11 Art Mall, and the Rosewood Hotel Guangzhou. The tower’s elevators, designed by Hitachi, once reached speeds of up to 1,260 meters per minute, among the fastest ever recorded. The Chow Tai Fook Centre’s terra cotta façade helps resist corrosion, provides solar shading, and reduces environmental impact.

9. CITIC Tower (China Zun): Beijing’s Flagship Commercial Supertall

CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, soars high at 528 meters (1,732 feet) in Beijing’s Central Business District. Its shape is inspired by an ancient Bronze Age zun vessel, giving the skyscraper a distinctive vase-like profile that broadens at the top and base. Built in 2018, it is among the most unmistakable features of Beijing's vibrant skyline.

• Height: 528 m (1,732 ft)
• Location: Beijing, China
• Construction period: 2013-2018
• Floors: 109 (plus 8 basement levels)
• Primary use: Office
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
• Owner: CITIC Group
• Construction cost: Approx. $3.4 billion

In the event of a seismic event, the tower's tapered form promises structural performance and steadiness. China Zun, one the world's most expensive skyscrapers, primarily houses the headquarters of CITIC Group and CITIC Bank, with the remaining space leased to other office tenants. The design combines the needs of a modern commercial building with cultural undertones.

10. Taipei 101: A Seismic-Resilient Icon of Early Supertall Design

Once the tallest building in the world, Taipei 101 rises 508 meters (1,667 ft) in Taiwan. Before the Burj Khalifa surpassed it, it dominated all other skyscrapers from 2004 to 2009. On January 25, 2026, climber Alex Honnold drew renewed attention by scaling its exterior. He completed his solo rope-free ascent of the 101-story tower in about 1 hour and 31 minutes.

• Height: 508 m (1,667 ft)
• Location: Taipei, Taiwan
• Construction period: 1999-2004
• Floors: 101
• Primary use: Office, observation, retail
• Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partners Architects/Planners
• Owner: Taipei Financial Center Corporation
• Construction cost: Approx. $1.9 billion

The tower’s eight stacked segments are designed to mimic a bamboo stalk. Its seismic resilience comes from a massive tuned mass damper, which helps stabilize the structure during earthquakes and typhoons.

Taipei 101 was later named the world’s tallest green building and includes high-speed elevators that reach the 89th-floor observatory in about 40 seconds. The skyscraper also has an integrated luxury shopping center and a multi-level observation deck.

The Next Modern Marvel: What Comes After Today’s Tall Buildings?

Several record-breaking towers are still under construction, including projects such as the Jeddah Tower, showing that the pursuit of extreme height has not ended. However, fewer developments are expected to reach this scale as technical and economic constraints become more prominent.

Looking ahead, the future of megatall construction is likely to emphasize efficiency, resilience, and long-term use over height alone. The next generation of landmark towers will be defined less by records and more by how effectively they meet the demands of modern cities.