Top 10 Tallest Building in the World : Also, the tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai at 828 meters tall, followed by Malaysia’s 679-meter Merdeka 118 and China’s 632-meter Shanghai Tower. Most of the world’s top 10 skyscrapers are in Asia, with Makkah Royal Clock Tower, Ping An Finance Center and Lotte World Towers also in the top 6.
Top 10 tallest buildings in the world
- Burj Khalifa (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): 828 meters (2,717 ft)
- Merdeka 118 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) — 679 meters (2,227 ft)
- Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China): 632 m (2,073 ft)
- Makkah Royal Clock Tower (Mecca, Saudi Arabia): 601 meters (1,972 ft)
- (Ping An Finance Center (Shenzhen, China): 599 meters (1,965 ft)
- Lotte World Tower (Seoul, Korea) — 555 meters (1,821 ft.)
- One World Trade Center (NY, USA): 541 m (1,776 ft)
- Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre (Guangzhou, China) ─ 530 metres (1,739 ft)
- Tianjin CTF Finance Centre (天津中信金融中心) (Tianjin, China): 530 m (1,739 ft)
- CITIC Tower (Beijing, China): 528 meters (1,732 ft)
Key Details:
Dominance: China takes many of these top spots.
Measurements: Heights are measured to the architectural top (including spires).
Added 2023: The completion of Merdeka 118 in 2023 cemented its spot at number two.
By early 2026, giants on the skyline of Asia and Middle East are still reigning supreme over throughout the world. While plans are in the works for a variety of super tall buildings (the tallest of which — the Jeddah Tower — will be more than 1,000m), this list is comprised solely of completed structures.
Top 10 Tallest Buildings
| Rank | Name | Location | Height (Meters) | Floors |
| 1 | Burj Khalifa | Dubai, UAE | 828m | 163 |
| 2 | Merdeka 118 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 679m | 118 |
| 3 | Shanghai Tower | Shanghai, China | 632m | 128 |
| 4 | Makkah Royal Clock Tower | Mecca, Saudi Arabia | 601m | 120 |
| 5 | Ping An Finance Center | Shenzhen, China | 599m | 115 |
| 6 | Lotte World Tower | Seoul, South Korea | 555m | 123 |
| 7 | One World Trade Center | New York City, USA | 541m | 94 |
| 8 | Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre | Guangzhou, China | 530m | 111 |
| 9 | Tianjin CTF Finance Centre | Tianjin, China | 530m | 97 |
| 10 | CITIC Tower (China Zun) | Beijing, China | 528m | 109 |
Key Highlights
Merdeka 118: Officially Southeast Asia’s tallest building, although technically the newest addition to the top three since its completion in late 2023 誣
Heights at #8 (tie): CTF Finance Centres in Guangzhou and Tianjin, measured to the architectural top, 530 meters, though they differ greatly in floors.
1,000m Race The Jeddah Tower, in Saudi Arabia, is the most-planned project. As it stands, construction is poised to one day take the #1 spot — once it’s finished mind you.
the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is still the tallest building in the world.
At 828 meters, or 2,717 feet, with 163 floors, it has been the titleholder since its completion in 2010. But now a massive return of Saudi Arabia is now questioning its long-dominating status.
Current Top 5 Tallest Completed Buildings
| Rank | Name | City | Height (Meters) | Completed |
| 1 | Burj Khalifa | Dubai, UAE | 828m | 2010 |
| 2 | Merdeka 118 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 679m | 2023 |
| 3 | Shanghai Tower | Shanghai, China | 632m | 2015 |
| 4 | Makkah Royal Clock Tower | Mecca, Saudi Arabia | 601m | 2012 |
| 5 | Ping An Finance Center | Shenzhen, China | 599m | 2017 |
The Future of the Record
If we look at the “Tallest Building” title, that is likely to change hands in a few years:
Jeddah Tower (Saudi Arabia): Construction restarted in early 2025 after a long standstill. As of March 2026, the tower has risen to around 96 stories. It is intended to be the first building resistant for more than that 1 km (1000 m) mark and so far, aims to finish it by 2028.
Rise Tower (Riyadh): In design and planning stage, it will be over 2km high, which is more than double the height of Burj Khalifa.
Dubai Creek Tower: Hoisted in the third and final slot on our list we have Dubai Creek Tower it the latest design pushed through by Emaar to deliver a project with similar aspirations as Burj Khalifa (a revised version of the structure it is so subject yet still early days)
Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE) – 828m
And while it’s still #1, it’s more than just a height record — it is an engineering wonder that transformed the world of “super-tall” construction.
The “Y” Shape: The building consists of a buttressed core design, in which a hexagonal central core is supported by three wings. The shape imparts extreme “torsional stiffness” to keep the building from twisting in high winds.
Speed of Ascent: The service elevator fastest in the world; each travels at 64 km/h (approximately 1,076 meters per minute).
Latest Update: In January 2026, Dubai government authorities announced that it would be building a major expansion of the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station (opening period: mid-2030) as tourism soared to a new capacity of 220,000 passengers daily.
Merdeka 118 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) – 679 m
Finished in late 2023, this is the highest building in Southeast Asia and the second highest in the world.
Cultural Significance: Shaped to resemble a diamond with its faceted glass facade, the off-center spire mimics the silhouette of Malaysia’s first Prime Minister raising his hand when independence was declared.
The View: Its observation deck is the highest in Southeast Asia, providing a breathtaking 360° view that includes the nearby Petronas Twin Towers.
Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China) – 632m
Wind Resistance: The building’s 120-degree twist serves more purpose than aesthetics; it diminishes wind loads by 24 percent, which saved approximately $58 million in structural-material costs during its construction.
Double-Skin Facade: It consists of two layers of glass producing “atrium” rooftops between them that work as a thermos and can save costs by 15% to 50% on heating and cooling.
The Race for 1,000 Meters: Jeddah Tower
If there was big news in 2026, it was the fast-moving Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia.
Construction Status: Work resumed strongly in 2025 after a 7 year break. In March 2026, the tower has finally passed the 85th floor.
The 1km goal = 1,000m (1km) building.
Technology: It’s using a new technology called “pumpcrete” that is special to push high-performance concrete to heights limit thought impossible by virtue of pressure and temperature.
Regional Leaders in 2026
| Region | Tallest Building | Height | Notes |
| North America | One World Trade Center | 541m | Symbolizes the year 1776 (US Independence). |
| India | Lokhandwala Minerva | 301m | Located in Mumbai; officially India’s tallest as of 2026. |
| Europe | Lakhta Center | 462m | Located in St. Petersburg, Russia. |
| Africa | Tour F | 421m | Slated for completion in Abidjan, Ivory Coast later this year. |
This post covers the FAQs about the world’s tallest buildings, plus updates on future 2026 projects and regional records.
🌍 World Record FAQs
What is currently the tallest building in the world?
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world’s tallest completed building and measures 828 meters tall (2,717 ft.) as of March 2026. It has held that title since opening in 2010.
And when will the Burj Khalifa be overtaken?
Its main competitor is the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia. Work on the site did not start again until 2025 after an extended construction hiatus. By the beginning of 2026, it was about 95 floors high. If construction continues at the current speed, it is predicted to exceed that of the Burj Khalifa and reach 1,000 meters by around 2028.
What’s the new news with “Dubai Creek Tower”?
The project was redesigned after initially being planned to surpass the Burj Khalifa. Emaar issued new construction tenders in early 2026. The new design will likely be a “megatall” structure somewhere between 900 and 1,000 meters tall, which may eventually rival Jeddah Tower for the #1 spot (after it reaches above ground) sometime after 2030.
🇮🇳 India & Regional FAQs
Which is the highest building in India?
Lokhandwala Minerva, Mumbai (301 m) — As of early 2026. Palais Royale (also in Mumbai) is taller structurally at 320 meters and should take the official top position as soon as it’s fully completed later this year.
Is a record height “tallest building” planned in North India?
Yes. New Delhi: The Haryana government has planned an iconic “Global City” tower near Dwarka Expressway in Gurugram. Currently, the project is in February 2026 bidding/RFP stage; envisioned to be a mixed-use landmark that’s potential for country tallest building upon build.
Why Does Most of India’s Tallest Buildings Belong to Mumbai?
Because of its geography as an island with limited land, developers have to create high-rises in Mumbai. Coupled with high real estate demand, as well as the city’s status as a financial hub, this has resulted in clusters of supertall residential towers (as would be those in Worli and Lower Parel).
🛠️ Engineering & General FAQs
What’s the difference between a “Supertall” and a “Megatall”?
Supertall: More than 300m ( Lokhandwala Minerva e.g.)
Megatall: >600m (e.g. Burj Khalifa, Merdeka 118, Shanghai Tower)
How do these buildings remain stable in strong winds?
Most are the “Buttressed Core” (a central core that has wings for support) or a Twisted Design. The Shanghai Tower (632m), for example, twists 120 degrees to minimize wind loads by 24%, while the Jeddah Tower uses a tapering triangular form that sheds air pressure as it soars.
What are the world’s fastest elevators?
The Shanghai Tower currently boasts the fastest elevators, at a speed of 20.5 meters per second (74 km/h).
