Tallest Buildings in the World

1. Burj Khalifa: The World’s tallest structure, Burj Khalifa, was opened in 2010 as a part of a new development called Downtown Dubai. The motivation behind building the Burj Khalifa was to diversify from an oil-based economy to a service and tourism-based economy. This more excellent project must be constructed to open the door for golden opportunities like international recognition and investment.

Location: Dubai, UAE

Address: 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard

Cost: US$1.5 billion

Owner: Emaar Properties

 

Structural Details:

Floor area: 309,473 m2 (3,331,100 sq ft)

Total Height: 829.8 m (2,722 ft)

Floor count: 154 + 9 maintenance

Structural system: Reinforced Concrete, steel, and aluminum

Architect(s): Adrian Smith

 

2. Merdeka 118: In Malay, The name Merdeka means “independence.” The former name is Menara Warisan Merdeka. In 2023, the construction was completed.

Location: Jalan Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Address: Menara Merdeka 118, Presint Merdeka 118, 50118 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Cost: RM5 billion

Owner: PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd

 

Structural Details:

Structural system: Steel, Reinforced Concrete, Concrete-encasedConcrete steel

Total Height: 680.5 m (2,233 ft)

Floor count: 118 (with five below ground)

Floor area: 292,000 m2 (3,140,000 sq ft)

Architect(s): Fender Katsalidis, in association with RSP KL

 

3. Shanghai Tower: Shanghai Tower is the tallest and largest LEED Platinum-certified building in the world and the third tallest after Merdeka 118, Malaysia. The tiered structure of the building, designed for energy efficiency, houses nine zones for office, retail, and leisure use.

Location: 501 Yincheng Middle Rd, Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai, China

Cost: CN¥15.9 billion

Owner: Shanghai Tower Construction and Development

 

Structural Details:

Total Height: 632 m (2,073 ft)

Floor count: 128 above ground

5 below ground

Floor area: 380,000 m2 (4,090,300 sq ft) above grade

170 m2 (1,800 sq ft) below grade

Architect(s): Marshall Strabala & Jun Xia (Gensler) TJAD

 

4. Makkah Royal Clock Tower: World’s fourth tallest building. The Clock Tower houses the Clock Tower Museum, occupying its top four floors.

Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Cost: US$15 billion

 

Structural Details:

Total Height: 601 m (1,972 ft)

Floor count: 120

Floor area: Tower: 310,638 m2 (3,343,680 sq ft)

Architect(s): SL Rasch GmbH and Dar Al-Handasah Architects

 

5. Ping An Finance Centre: Completed in 2017, this building holds the distinction of being the tallest in Shenzhen, the second tallest in China, and the fifth tallest building globally.

Location: 5033 Yitian Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

Cost: $1.5 billion (USD, estimated)

Owner: Ping An Life Insurance Company of China

 

Structural Details:

Total Height: 599.1 m (1,966 ft)

Floor count: 115 aboveground levels, plus five belowground basement levels

Floor area: 459,187 m2 (4,942,650 sq ft)

Architect(s): Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

 

6. Lotte World Tower: Sixth-tallest in the World, tallest in OECD countries, and first 100 stories exceeding tall in South Korea. A beautiful Sky Bridge Tour is located on the roof of Lotte World Tower.

Location: (Sincheon-dong) 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Cost: 3.5 billion USD

Total Height: 555 m (1,821 ft)

Floor count: 123 and 6 below ground

Floor area: 304,081 m2 (3,273,100 sq ft)

Architect(s): Kohn Pedersen Fox

           

7. One World Trade Center: Among the iconic NYC glamour, the One World Trade Center stands by, holding the world’s seventh tallest pride. The building’s height, measured in feet, is a deliberate reference to 1776, the year the United States Declaration of Independence was signed.

Location: 285 Fulton Street, Manhattan, New York, USA

 

Cost: US$3.9 billion

Total Height: 1,792 ft (546.2 m)

Floor count: 94 (+5 below ground) (28 mechanical)

Floor area: 3,501,274 sq ft (325,279 m2)