India Tower
The tallest building currently under construction is the 720 metre India Tower rising above Mumbai, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The design has gone through several permutations but is now in the form of a triangular needle. It will primarily serve as a hotel but will also include offices and high-end apartments
Kingdom Tower
After months of delays, there are signs the planned 1,000 metre-plus Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, may be moving nearer to reality. In September, contractors placed bids to build the tower, which would move it above the Burj Khalifa as the world's tallest. The developer is Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Shanghai Tower
Located in the Pudong district of Shanghai, which features numerous towers, the 632 metre building is likely to move into the number two spot on the world's tallest list when it is completed in 2014.
But the Gensler-designed spiralling tower will probably be passed within a couple of years by the India Tower.
Pentominium
Part of the "tallest block" array of towers in the Dubai Marina, the Aedas-designed project will become the world's tallest residential tower when it is completed, which is due to be in 2013.
The Pentominium will surpass the Princess Tower, another Marina construction, which is due to open next year.
The Shard of Glass
Renzo Piano's stunning sliver of glass and steel will become London's tallest building. Mr Piano says the shape was inspired by the city's spires and the masts of boats on the Thames river. The £2bn (Dh11.35bn) project was funded primarily by investors from Qatar.
* compiled by Kevin Brass