A look at the world’s most vertical landmarks and the tower soon to surpass them all

Human ambition has always had a vertical component. From ancient monuments to modern megastructures, the desire to reach higher seems inseparable from our idea of progress.

Here is our look at the tallest skyscrapers standing today, followed by a closer look at the tower that is poised to redefine what “tall” even means.

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1. Burj Khalifa

Height: 828 meters (2,717 feet)

Still unmatched, the Burj Khalifa remains the tallest structure ever built by humans. Rising from the desert skyline of Dubai, the tower combines residential, hotel, and observation spaces within a form inspired by Islamic geometry and desert flowers.

More than a decade after its completion, it continues to represent the absolute ceiling of architectural achievement, at least for now.

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2. Merdeka 118

Height: 678.9 meters (2,227 feet)

Malaysia’s Merdeka 118 is a sharp, crystalline presence in Kuala Lumpur’s skyline. Completed in 2023, it reflects national pride through form, referencing traditional Malaysian motifs while embracing a futuristic silhouette.

It stands as the second-tallest building in the world and a powerful symbol of Southeast Asia’s architectural rise.

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3. Shanghai Tower

Height: 632 meters (2,073 feet)

With its spiraling glass facade, the Shanghai Tower is as elegant as it is tall. Designed to reduce wind loads and energy consumption, it exemplifies how extreme height and sustainability can coexist.

The tower houses offices, hotels, and public observation spaces, all wrapped in one of the most recognizable forms in contemporary architecture.

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4. Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower

Height: 601 meters (1,971 feet)

Overlooking the Great Mosque of Mecca, the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower is both monumental and symbolic. Its massive clock faces are among the largest in the world, making the building instantly recognizable from miles away.

More than a skyscraper, it functions as a religious, cultural, and hospitality complex serving millions of pilgrims each year.

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5. Ping An Finance Center

Height: 599 meters (1,965 feet)

The Ping An Finance Center reflects Shenzhen’s transformation from manufacturing hub to global financial powerhouse. Its sleek, tapering form emphasizes efficiency and strength, housing offices and observation decks that look out over one of China’s fastest-growing cities.

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The Tower That Will Change Everything: Jeddah Tower

Jeddah Tower

Projected Height: Over 1,000 meters (3,280+ feet)

While the Burj Khalifa still reigns supreme, its successor is already rising from the Saudi desert. Jeddah Tower, formerly known as Kingdom Tower, is expected to become the first building in history to surpass one kilometer in height once completed.

After years of delays, Jeddah Tower is deep under construction, and is planned to complete by mid-late 2028.

Designed by Adrian Smith, the same architect behind the Burj Khalifa, Jeddah Tower pushes engineering into largely uncharted territory. The structure is planned to include residential units, offices, hotels, and the highest observation deck ever built, offering views that stretch across the Red Sea.

Construction resumed after a lengthy pause, and while timelines have shifted, the intent remains clear. Jeddah Tower is not just about becoming the tallest. It is about redefining what cities, materials, and human endurance can support. Its slender, tapering form is inspired by desert plants and shaped to withstand extreme wind forces at unprecedented heights.

When completed, Jeddah Tower will not simply break a record. It will establish an entirely new category of scale.

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Looking Upward

The world’s tallest skyscrapers reveal a great deal about our collective aspirations. They reflect technological confidence, economic momentum, and a belief that architecture can still inspire awe.

As Jeddah Tower edges closer to completion, it marks the beginning of a new era, one where the sky is no longer a metaphorical limit but a measurable one.

For now, these towers stand as reminders that humanity’s fascination with height is far from over.