Lists

Top 15 Tallest Towers in the Middle East

Detailed list of tallest buildings in Middle East.

Updated on

February 23, 2024

Middle East, the home of Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world – is adorned with towering skyscrapers that feature among the tallest structures on the planet.

Here is a curated list of the Middle East’s tallest buildings, including renowned structures like Burj Khalifa, Makkah Clock Tower, Marina 101, Princess Tower, Al Hamra Tower, and 15 others.

Editor’s Note: This information is accurate as at the time of publication and is mainly sourced from the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

1. Burj Khalifa

Formerly known as Burj Dubai, Burj Khalifa – which is located in Downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – has been the world’s tallest structure since 2009.

The 828-metre structure is 319 metres taller than its Taiwanese predecessor, Taipei 101, which was officially the world’s tallest building from 2004 to 2009.

Burj Khalifa also holds the title of the tallest free-standing structure in the world. It is also the building with the highest number of stories at 163 floors.

Owned by Emaar Properties, Burj Khalifa hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck, the tallest service elevator, and the highest occupied floor.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 828m

Floors: 163

Year of Completion: 2010

Developer: Emaar Properties

Chief Contractor: Samsung C&T Corporation

2. Makkah Clock Tower

Also known as Abraj Al-Bait Towers, Makkah Royal Clock Tower is a mixed-use residential and hotel complex located in Makkah Haram, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The building stands 601m-high above ground, which makes it the fourth tallest skyscraper in the world after the 632-metre Shanghai Tower in China.

As the name suggests, Makkah Royal Clock Tower consists of four giant clock faces mounted near the top of the 120-floor building.

The skyscraper was built as part of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project, which sought to position Mecca as a world-class tourist destination.

Quick Facts:

Location: Makkah

Height: 601m

Floors: 120

Year of Completion: 2012

Developer: Saudi Bin Laden Group

Chief Contractor: Saudi Bin Laden Group

3. Marina 101 Tower

Set in the waterfront community of Dubai Marina, Marina 101 Tower is ranked third on the list of tallest buildings in the Middle East with a height of 423 metres.

The 101-floor building, which was completed in 2017, is also one of the tallest residential skyscrapers in the world.

It boasts a range of aesthetic effects – adding abundant visual elements to perforate and diffuse the exteriors of the building.

Despite its ‘completion’ in 2017, Marina 101 Tower is yet to be fully concluded as its original developer Sheffield Holdings Limited – ran out of funds.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 423m

Floors: 101

Year of Completion: 2017

Developer: Emaar Properties

Chief Contractor: TAV Construction

4. Princess Tower

Once the tallest residential tower in the world, Princess Tower in Dubai Marina offers stunning views of the Dubai coastline and the Dubai Eye Ferris Wheel.

The 101-floor skyscraper is a superb structure with a façade divided into several conspicuous sections – which make it one of the most striking buildings in Dubai.

The main frame of the building has a series of curved balconies that are fitted into the centre of each wall and the windows are lined up at the corners of the tower.

Higher floors of the Princess Tower feature glass cladding broken up by crosscut vertical and horizontal panels. There is an observation deck on the 97th floor.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 414m

Floors: 101

Year of Completion: 2012

Developer: Tameer Holding Investment

Chief Contractor: Arabian Construction Company

5. Al Hamra Tower

Located in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Al Hamra Firduos Tower – the tallest building in Kuwait – ranks fifth among the tallest buildings the Middle East at 412.6 metres.

Al Hamra Tower uses enfolded glass on the east, north, and west both for aesthetics and to cut the amount of reflective surface area on the south facade, which also features brushed Jura limestone.

The building was made into the Time magazine’s list of the best inventions of 2011.

Quick Facts:

Location: Kuwait City

Height: 412.6m

Floors: 80

Year of Completion: 2011

Developer: Al Hamra Real Estate Co.

Chief Contractor: Ahmadiah Contracting and Trading Company

6. 23 Marina

Nestled between Dubai Media City and Dubai Marina, 23 Marina is a 392-metre, 88-storey residential tower that became the world’s tallest all-residential building in early 2012 before it was overtaken by Princess Tower in July 2012.

It sits on a podium with a 6-storey entry hall featuring geometric designs on the flooring and slanted glass walls and a waterfall statue behind the reception desk.

Overhead the podium is an octagonal-shaped tower structure that offers spectacular views of the metropolis of Dubai from the apartments.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 392m

Floors: 88

Year of Completion: 2012

Developer: Emaar Properties

Chief Contractor: Dubai Civil Engineering

7. PIF Tower

Seventh on the list of tallest buildings in the Middle East is the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Tower (formerly known as Capital Market Authority Tower) at 385 metres.

The 72-storey skyscraper, which is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was completed in 2021 after more than a decade of construction work – becoming the tallest building in Saudi Arabia ahead of Burj Rafal.

PIF Tower – a centerpiece of the King Abdullah Financial District – is held to be one of the most high-tech skyscrapers in the world.

It features an observation deck, a 2-storey atrium, double-height sky lobbies, and a Twin elevator system with two cabs traveling in a single shaft, among other facilities.

Quick Facts:

Location: Riyadh

Height: 385m

Floors: 72

Year of Completion: 2021

Developer: Al Ra’idah Investment Company

Chief Contractor: Saudi Bin Laden Group

8. Burj Mohammed bin Rashid

Located in Abu Dhabi, Burj Mohammed bin Rashid is an 88-floor residential building that became the tallest building in the city upon its completion in 2014.

As of January 2023, Burj Mohammed bin Rashid is the world’s seventh-tallest residential building. It is located close to the smaller Trust Tower offices.

Quick Facts:

Location: Abu Dhabi

Height: 381.2m

Floors: 88

Year of Completion: 2014

Developer: Aldar Properties

Chief Contractor: Arabian Construction Company

9. Elite Residence

Located in Dubai Marina, the 380-metre Elite Residence was the third-tallest residential building in the world at the time of its completion in January 2012.

The skyscraper features contemporary design with a touch of Victorian Architecture and comprises 695 apartments that range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom penthouses.

It has four basements, a ground floor and 87 floors that offer views of the Arabian Gulf and superb highlights of Palm Jumeirah, one of the man-made palm islands.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 381m

Floors: 87

Year of Completion: 2012

Developer: Tameer Holding Investment

Chief Contractor: Arabian Construction Company

10. The Address Boulevard

Also known as The Address BLVD, The Address Boulevard, is 10th among the tallest buildings in the Middle East at 370 metres.

The 73-storey tower, which is located in Downtown Dubai, houses 530 serviced apartments and a 196-room hotel that is run by Address Hotels and Resorts.

It sits on a multi-level podium.

The upper section of the platform offers distinct lobbies of the hotel and apartments while the lower section creates a wall that separates the tower from the boulevard and the elevated highway to the north to reduce noise pollution.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 370m

Floors: 73

Year of Completion: 2017

Developer: Emaar Properties

Chief Contractor: Brookfield Multiplex

11. Almas Tower

Snuggled in the waterfront community of the Jumeirah Lake Towers, the 360-metre Almas Tower is often referred to as Diamond Tower due to its style that draws inspiration from the typical shape of diamonds.

The 68-storey tower houses the Dubai Diamond Exchange in a two-storey podium with eight triangles inspired by the facets of a sliced diamond extending out from the core. This is easily the tower’s most architecturally outstanding feature.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 360m

Floors: 68

Year of Completion: 2008

Developer: DMCC

Chief Contractor: Arabian Construction Company/Taisei Corporation

12. Gevora Hotel

Located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, Gevora Hotel is one of the tallest buildings in the Middle East at 356 metres.

The 75-storey tower houses 528 deluxe rooms and suites, 5 restaurants, leisure units and a health club.

The façade of the building has a classic design that is made up of numerous windows on every floor, allowing a plentiful amount of sunlight into the building.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 356m

Floors: 75

Year of Completion: 2017

Developer: Al Attar Properties

Chief Contractor: Caterpillar Contracting

13. JW Marriott Marquis

Also located on Sheikh Zayed Road, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is made of up two towers both 355 metres tall.

The 1,608-room, 5-star luxury hotel is operated by Marriott International.

The 82-storey JW Marriott Marquis resembles the date tree – a significant symbol of Arab culture. It represents expressionist architecture, in which a structure resembles a distorted shape.

It offers stunning views of the Dubai skyline.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 355m

Floors: 82

Year of Completion: 2012

Developer: Emirates Airline

Chief Contractor: Brookfield Multiplex

14. Emirates Tower One

Emirates Tower One, which is also located on Sheikh Zayed Road, is a 355-metre office building that features 14th in the list of tallest buildings in the Middle East.

Opened in 2000, the tower features three huge core walls that bear the weight that is shifted at the four levels by giant steel trusses connected to the cores.

The 54-storey building features a curved wall that rises nearly the whole height of one face of the triangular structure – offering a spectacular view of the city.

Quick Facts:

Location: Dubai

Height: 355m

Floors: 54

Year of Completion: 2000

Developer: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Chief Contractor: Brookfield Multiplex

15. Marina Torch

Also known as Dubai Torch, Marina Torch is a 352-metre residential tower located in Dubai Marina, UAE.

The 86-floor Marina Torch became the tallest residential building in the world in 2011 ahead of Q1 in Gold Coast, Australia – which previously held the title.