• The sun sets behind the world's tallest completed building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The mega-tall structure was completed in 2010, is 828 metres tall and has 163 floors. Ali Haider / EPA
    The sun sets behind the world's tallest completed building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The mega-tall structure was completed in 2010, is 828 metres tall and has 163 floors. Ali Haider / EPA
  • The Shanghai Tower exterior resembles a snake as it spirals upwards in the Pudong area of the city it was named after in China. At 632 metres tall, it has 128 floors and is the country's tallest building and the world's number two. Roman Pilipey / EPA
    The Shanghai Tower exterior resembles a snake as it spirals upwards in the Pudong area of the city it was named after in China. At 632 metres tall, it has 128 floors and is the country's tallest building and the world's number two. Roman Pilipey / EPA
  • An aerial view shows the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, part of the Abraj Al-Bait tower and the Grand Mosque compound, which is 601 metres tall and has 120 floors. It is currently the third tallest building in the world. Mast Irham / EPA
    An aerial view shows the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, part of the Abraj Al-Bait tower and the Grand Mosque compound, which is 601 metres tall and has 120 floors. It is currently the third tallest building in the world. Mast Irham / EPA
  • The Ping An Finance Centre rises above other buildings in Shenzhen, China. The building stands 599.1 metres, making it the fourth tallest building in the world but the world's tallest all office building. Jerome Favre / EPA
    The Ping An Finance Centre rises above other buildings in Shenzhen, China. The building stands 599.1 metres, making it the fourth tallest building in the world but the world's tallest all office building. Jerome Favre / EPA
  • The Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea, is 554.5 metres in height and has 123 floors, and is the fifth tallest building in the world. Jeon Heon-Kyun / EPA
    The Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea, is 554.5 metres in height and has 123 floors, and is the fifth tallest building in the world. Jeon Heon-Kyun / EPA
  • A view shows the One World Trade Center and its reflection in New York City, US. It is 541.3 metres in height and has 94 floors, making the sixth tallest completed building in the world. Justin Lane / EPA
    A view shows the One World Trade Center and its reflection in New York City, US. It is 541.3 metres in height and has 94 floors, making the sixth tallest completed building in the world. Justin Lane / EPA
  • People stand at the base of the Guangzhou Chow Tai Fook Finance Centre in Guangzhou, China. The building (also called East Tower) is 530 metres in height, has 111 floors, and is the seventh tallest building in the world. EPA
    People stand at the base of the Guangzhou Chow Tai Fook Finance Centre in Guangzhou, China. The building (also called East Tower) is 530 metres in height, has 111 floors, and is the seventh tallest building in the world. EPA
  • People climb a hill to enjoy the view of the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan. Launched as the world's tallest building in 2004, the 508 -metre building with 101 floors is the eighth tallest building in the world. Ritchie B. Tongo / EPA
    People climb a hill to enjoy the view of the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan. Launched as the world's tallest building in 2004, the 508 -metre building with 101 floors is the eighth tallest building in the world. Ritchie B. Tongo / EPA
  • The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, US, was the tallest building of its time. AP Photo
    The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, US, was the tallest building of its time. AP Photo
  • The Jeddah Tower rises to about 300 metres as work progresses on the structure in Saudi Arabia. Upon completion in 2020-2021, it will be 1,000 metres tall and have 167 floors. Amel Pain / EPA
    The Jeddah Tower rises to about 300 metres as work progresses on the structure in Saudi Arabia. Upon completion in 2020-2021, it will be 1,000 metres tall and have 167 floors. Amel Pain / EPA

World

The world's tallest buildings - in pictures

Many of us (particularly in the UAE) already know the current record holder, but its reign may soon be over

The National

June 04, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

The sky is literally the limit when it comes creating tall buildings, and the race to construct ever higher edifices is ongoing.

But how far up can we actually go?

A little more yet, it seems, as some projects currently under construction are predicted to topple the existing world record holders (known as 'megatall' structures) when they're finished.

The first known skyscraper was completed in Chicago, US, in 1885.

The Home Insurance Building was square, made of brown brick, and considered a daring construction for its day, at all of ten floors, or 42 metres, in height.

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By today’s standards, it’s hard to believe that there were those who did not believe it could hold its weight and would topple before completion.

This building sparked a movement within the US (and across the rest of the world), inspiring architects to devise ways to take their projects higher and higher.

As the race to create the tallest structure took hold in the 20th century, innovative designs allowed buildings to soar higher, utilising materials like steel and concrete. And electricity was also now available to power people upwards in lifts.

Currently, the world's tallest building (since 2008) is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, at 828m in height and with 163 floors, and it is celebrating life this month with an LED show called Soar.

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