Tallest Building in the World: Burj Khalifa, Jeddah Tower & More

The skyline of Dubai has been defined by a single structure for over a decade—the Burj Khalifa. At 828 meters, it’s the tallest human-made structure on the planet, but with new challengers rising in Asia and the Middle East, the race for altitude is far from over.

Current tallest building: Burj Khalifa, 828 m (2,717 ft) ·
Year completed: 2010 ·
Floors: 163 occupied (200 total) ·
Next tallest under construction: Jeddah Tower (1,000+ m)

Key facts about the Burj Khalifa, the current record holder.

What is the tallest building in the world today?

Burj Khalifa official height and location

The Burj Khalifa stands at exactly 828 meters (2,717 feet) from its base to the pinnacle, a height measured by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) standards. Located in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, it was completed in 2010 and has held the title of tallest building in the world ever since (Skyscraper Center (industry database)). The building contains 163 occupied floors, with a total of 200 levels including mechanical spaces (Wikipedia (building page)).

How the Burj Khalifa compares to other megatall structures

The closest completed rival is Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, which reaches 679 meters and was finished in 2023 (Skyscraper Center (building profile)). The Burj Khalifa still holds a lead of 149 meters — more than the height of the entire Empire State Building.

Bottom line: Burj Khalifa remains the tallest completed building in the world by a wide margin, but the next generation of towers may finally close the gap.

What are the top 10 tallest buildings in the world?

Six of the ten tallest completed buildings are in Asia, a clear concentration of megatall ambition. Here’s the current top 10 as of 2026.

Heights from Skyscraper Center (industry database) and Wikipedia (List of tallest buildings).

The pattern: nine of the top ten are in Asia, and only one — One World Trade Center — represents North America. Europe’s tallest, Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg (462 m), doesn’t break the top 20 (Wikipedia).

What is taller than the Burj Khalifa?

Jeddah Tower under construction

No completed building surpasses the Burj Khalifa. However, the Jeddah Tower (formerly Kingdom Tower) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is designed to exceed 1,000 meters — specifically planned at around 1,008 meters (3,307 feet) (Travel Pirates (travel comparison platform)). Construction began in 2013 but paused in 2018 at roughly 68 floors due to funding issues (YouTube (construction analysis)).

Other proposed towers

Dubai Creek Tower, announced in 2016, is envisioned to reach over 1,300 meters — but it remains in the design phase. No other site has broken ground on a genuinely taller building. For a different perspective on tower living, see Oceanside Resort & Twin Towers: Reviews, Rates, Location.

Comparison: Burj Khalifa vs Jeddah Tower (planned) vs Merdeka 118

The trade-off: Jeddah Tower could become the world’s first kilometer-tall building, but the funding freeze has left it in limbo. Until construction resumes, Burj Khalifa remains unchallenged.

Where is the current tallest building in the world?

Burj Khalifa’s location in Dubai

The Burj Khalifa stands in the heart of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. It’s the centerpiece of the city’s Downtown district and attracts millions of visitors annually (Travel Pirates).

Geographic concentration of megatall buildings

Asia, particularly the Middle East and China, hosts the vast majority of the world’s tallest structures. Of the 20 tallest completed buildings, 17 are in Asia. Dubai alone has three of the top 20 (Skyscraper Center).

Who owns the Burj Khalifa now?

Emaar Properties: developer and majority owner

The Burj Khalifa is owned by Emaar Properties PJSC, a Dubai-based public joint stock company. Emaar developed the tower and manages its operations. The company also holds a stake via Dubai Holding, which is part of the Dubai government’s investment portfolio (Wikipedia (Emaar Properties)).

Ownership structure and management

The building is not a single-entity ownership; rather, Emaar retains majority control while other institutional investors hold minority stakes. Residential units and hotel spaces are individually owned, but the common areas and the building itself are under Emaar’s management.

The implication: Emaar’s control over the Burj Khalifa gives it outsized influence over one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.

What will be the new tallest building in the world?

Jeddah Tower as the next world’s tallest

If completed, Jeddah Tower will exceed the Burj Khalifa by about 180 meters, making it the first kilometer-tall building. However, the project has faced multiple delays since 2018. Reports indicate construction may restart, but no firm completion date has been announced (Travel Pirates).

Other future megatall projects

Dubai Creek Tower, with a proposed height of 1,300+ meters, and the Sky Mile Tower in Tokyo (concept only) are longer-term possibilities. For now, Jeddah Tower remains the only under-construction building that could claim the title.

What this means: Saudi Arabia’s ability to fund and complete Jeddah Tower will determine whether the next record falls in Jeddah or elsewhere.

Is there a building with 200 floors?

Burj Khalifa’s floor count

The Burj Khalifa has 163 occupied floors, but counting mechanical and maintenance levels, the total reaches about 200 floors. No building currently has 200 occupied floors. The closest is the Shanghai Tower with 128 floors (Skyscraper Center (Shanghai Tower profile)).

Why 200 occupied floors is unrealistic today

A building with 200 occupied floors would need to be over 900 meters tall (assuming ~4.5 m per floor). The structural and logistics challenges — wind sway, elevator capacity, evacuation time — make such a design difficult with current technology.

Timeline of the tallest building race

• 2009 – Burj Khalifa topped out at 828 m, becomes tallest structure ever built (Wikipedia).
• January 4, 2010 – Burj Khalifa officially opens and is declared the tallest building in the world (Wikipedia).
• 2013 – Jeddah Tower construction begins (YouTube (construction analysis)).
• 2018 – Jeddah Tower construction pauses at ~68 floors due to funding issues (YouTube).
• 2023 – Merdeka 118 (679 m) completed in Kuala Lumpur, surpassing Shanghai Tower for 2nd place (Skyscraper Center).
• 2026 – Burj Khalifa remains the tallest completed building.

Clarity: What we know and what remains uncertain

Perspectives from the industry

“The Burj Khalifa stands at 828 meters, making it the tallest building in the world by a comfortable margin.”

Wikipedia (List of Tallest Buildings)

“Jeddah Tower, if completed, will surpass the Burj Khalifa and become the first building to exceed one kilometer in height.”

Travel Pirates (Travel Comparison Platform)

“The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat only counts completed buildings in official rankings, which is why Burj Khalifa remains number one.”

Skyscraper Center (CTBUH Standards)

What this means for the future

The next few years will determine whether Jeddah Tower finally breaks the kilometer mark or remains a stalled dream. For developers and investors in the Middle East, the choice is clear: either secure funding and resume construction, or watch another city — perhaps one in China — claim the title of the world’s next tallest building. In the world of records, the Fastest Animal in the World: Peregrine Falcon’s 242 MPH Dive represents a different kind of peak performance, much like Burj Khalifa dominates the vertical realm.

For those wanting to see where other skyscrapers stand, a detailed top 10 list offers a detailed top 10 list of the world’s tallest buildings.

Frequently asked questions