If you asked a random person on the street to name the tallest building on the planet, they’d probably bark out "Burj Khalifa" before you even finished the sentence. They aren't wrong. At least, not yet. But honestly, the answer to what is the tallest skyscraper in the world is becoming a bit of a "moving target" as we head through 2026.
Right now, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai still holds the crown. It’s 828 meters of shimmering glass and steel that basically pokes the sky in the eye. But there is a massive, concrete-and-steel shadow growing over in Saudi Arabia that is about to change everything. It’s called the Jeddah Tower, and if you haven't been keeping tabs on it, you've missed one of the wildest "will-they-won't-they" stories in architectural history.
The Burj Khalifa: Still the King (For Now)
Let’s talk about the current champ. The Burj Khalifa has been the undisputed heavyweight since it opened back in 2010. To put its height into perspective: if you took the Eiffel Tower and stacked it on top of itself three times, you’d still be looking up at the Burj.
It’s 2,717 feet tall. That is just over half a mile.
✨ Don't miss: Inside of a Airbus A380: Why the Double-Decker Giant Still Feels Like the Future
One of the coolest—and kinda terrifying—things about it is the temperature difference. Because it’s so tall, the air at the top is about 6 degrees Celsius cooler than it is at the base. It’s basically its own weather system. You’ve got people on the 163rd floor living a totally different climate reality than the tourists sweating at the fountain down below.
Why the Burj Khalifa is a Freak of Nature
- The Y-Shape: The building isn't just pretty; the "triple-lobed" footprint is designed to confuse the wind. If it were a flat square, a strong gust might literally snap it or make everyone inside feel seasick.
- The Elevators: They move at 10 meters per second. You'll feel your ears pop roughly four times before you hit the observation deck.
- The Spire: Here’s a bit of a controversy. About 244 meters of the Burj is just "vanity height." It’s an empty steel spire that doesn't have floors or offices. Some architects think that’s cheating. Others call it art.
What is the Tallest Skyscraper in the World Actually Going to Be?
If you’re looking for the real news in 2026, you have to look toward Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After years of the project being stuck in limbo—seriously, it sat as a 60-story stump for ages—construction on the Jeddah Tower has roared back to life.
As of early 2026, the tower has officially surpassed the 80-floor mark. The "blistering" pace, as some engineers are calling it, means they are adding a new floor every few days.
The goal? To be the first human-made structure to hit the 1,000-meter mark. That is a full kilometer.
Imagine standing on a balcony and being three-fifths of a mile in the air. The Jeddah Tower is designed by Adrian Smith, the same guy who did the Burj Khalifa, so he’s essentially trying to beat his own high score. It’s expected to be finished around 2028, but in the world of megaprojects, "expected" usually means "fingers crossed."
The Global Top 5: A Quick Reality Check
While everyone focuses on the battle between Dubai and Jeddah, the rest of the world isn't exactly sitting around. Here is how the leaderboard looks right now in 2026:
💡 You might also like: Why Carden Park Hotel Golf Resort Spa is Actually Worth the Hype
- Burj Khalifa (Dubai): 828m. Still the one to beat.
- Merdeka 118 (Kuala Lumpur): 678.9m. This thing is gorgeous and recently finished, claiming the #2 spot from China.
- Shanghai Tower (China): 632m. It’s famous for that "twist" in its design which helps it handle typhoons.
- Abraj Al Bait Clock Tower (Mecca): 601m. It looks like Big Ben on steroids and sits right next to the Grand Mosque.
- Ping An Finance Center (Shenzhen): 599m. A massive office hub that almost looks like a giant needle.
You've probably noticed something. The US isn't even in the top five. One World Trade Center in New York is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, but at 541 meters, it’s basically a "mid-sized" tower compared to what’s happening in Asia and the Middle East.
The Engineering Nightmares Nobody Tells You About
Building something this high isn't just about having enough concrete. It’s about physics trying to kill you at every turn.
When you’re a kilometer up, wind is your biggest enemy. To deal with this, the Jeddah Tower uses a "three-petal" footprint. It’s aerodynamic. It sheds wind vortices so the building doesn't sway like a blade of grass.
Then there’s the "Pumpcrete" problem. How do you get wet concrete to the 100th floor before it hardens? You need specialized high-pressure pumps that are basically the Ferraris of the construction world. If a pump fails midway through a pour, you’ve got a massive, expensive mess that can stall a project for months.
And let’s not forget the elevators. In the Jeddah Tower, they’re using "carbon fiber" cables because traditional steel cables would be too heavy to even lift themselves at that height.
Is the Race for Height Finally Over?
Sorta. But not really.
There was a time when every city wanted the "tallest" title just for bragging rights. Now, the focus is shifting. We’re seeing more "megatalls" (buildings over 600m) being designed as "vertical cities." The idea is that you never have to leave. You’ve got your grocery store on floor 10, your office on floor 50, and your apartment on floor 90.
It’s a response to urban sprawl. Why build out when you can build up?
However, the cost is insane. The Burj Khalifa cost about $1.5 billion. The Jeddah Tower is likely going to soar past that once the final bill for the "Jeddah Economic City" comes in. For many countries, the "tallest skyscraper" is less about utility and more about a "statement of intent." It says, "We have arrived."
🔗 Read more: Why Ekies All Senses Resort Is The Only Place To Do Halkidiki Right
The Next Steps for Your Trip or Research
If you’re planning to actually visit the tallest skyscraper in the world, here is the ground reality for 2026.
First, book your Burj Khalifa tickets at least two weeks in advance. The "At the Top SKY" experience on the 148th floor is the one you want, but it sells out fast. If you try to walk up and buy a ticket at the door, you’ll likely pay double or be told to come back tomorrow.
Second, keep an eye on the Jeddah waterfront. While you can't go up the Jeddah Tower yet, the surrounding "Economic City" is starting to take shape. It’s becoming a massive tourist hub in its own right.
Finally, check out Merdeka 118 in Malaysia if you want to see the "newest" completed giant. The observation deck there, called "The View at 118," offers a perspective of Kuala Lumpur that makes the famous Petronas Towers look small.
To stay updated on the construction race, follow the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). They are the official referees of this "who is the tallest" game, and they have the final say on whether a spire counts as "height" or if it's just a glorified antenna.