Top 10 Tallest Buildings in the World (2026)

Standing 632 meters tall in Lujiazui, Shanghai, the Shanghai Tower is China's tallest skyscraper and the world's second tallest building, completed in 2015. Its distinctive spiraling form reduces wind loads by 24% and incorporates 9 sky gardens across its 128 floors—offering 12% more public green space than the average supertall tower.

Rising 601 meters above the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower is the tallest clock tower in the world, completed in 2012. Outperforming the Burj Khalifa's clock face by 40% in diameter, part of the Abraj Al-Bait complex, it houses a luxury hotel and overlooks the Grand Mosque, accommodating millions of pilgrims annually.

The Ping An Finance Centre in Shenzhen, China reaches 599 meters and was completed in 2017, making it the tallest building in Shenzhen. Its sleek tapering form (10% lighter than the typical rival of similar height) with a stainless steel and glass facade dominates the Futian CBD skyline and houses the headquarters of Ping An Insurance.

Soaring 555 meters above Seoul, South Korea, the Lotte World Tower was completed in 2017 and is the tallest building in South Korea. At 123 floors, it outperforms #3 Burj Khalifa's observation deck height by 10 meters, featuring Korea's highest observation deck at 500 meters. It was designed to withstand earthquakes of up to 9.0 magnitude, 30% stronger than the typical skyscraper standard.

Standing 541 meters tall in Manhattan, New York, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, completed in 2014. Built on the site of the original Twin Towers, it serves as both a tribute to resilience and a symbol of renewal, featuring a 408-meter observation deck—40 meters higher than the average of similar city landmarks—with panoramic views of New York City.

The Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre reaches 530 meters in Guangzhou, China, completed in 2016. The 111-floor tower, 20 floors shorter than #1 Lotte World Tower, is connected to the Guangzhou East Rail Station and houses offices, a Chow Tai Fook jewellery headquarters, serviced apartments, and a luxury hotel in its upper floors.

Standing 530 meters tall in Tianjin, China, the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre was completed in 2019. Like #6 Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, it reaches the same height but was built 3 years later. This mixed-use supertall skyscraper contains offices, apartments, and a Rosewood hotel, and its design draws inspiration from bamboo—a symbol of resilience and strength in Chinese culture.

The CITIC Tower (China Zun) rises 528 meters in Beijing's central business district, completed in 2018—just 2 meters shorter than Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Binhai Center. It is the tallest building in Beijing and was designed to resemble the ancient Chinese ritual vessel known as a zun. The 109-floor tower is engineered to withstand major earthquakes (rated up to Magnitude 7) and powerful winds (sustaining gusts of 140 km/h).

The Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Binhai Center reaches 530 meters in the Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China, completed in 2019—2 meters taller than CITIC Tower. The supertall skyscraper serves as a mixed-use development with offices, retail, and residential units, and its reflective glass facade shimmers along the Tianjin waterfront, using 30% less energy than the average commercial tower.