Every great skyline has a story, and the Dubai skyline has one of the most remarkable stories of any city on earth. Over the past five decades, the title of tallest building in the country has changed hands again and again, with each new tower reflecting a new chapter in Dubai’s growth. Let’s walk through the tallest buildings in UAE one by one, from the earliest icons to the supertall buildings rising today.
1. Dubai World Trade Centre (1979 to 1999)
Height: 149 metres
Location: Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Reign: 20 years
The story of the tallest buildings in Dubai begins with the Dubai World Trade Centre, originally named Sheikh Rashid Tower. Completed in 1979, this tower was the tallest structure in the country for two full decades, a remarkable run that reflects just how slowly the city’s skyline grew before the boom years arrived.
For an entire generation of residents, this building was a symbol of national pride, often appearing in school textbooks as a marker of the country’s progress. While modest in height compared to today’s Dubai skyscrapers, the Dubai World Trade Centre laid the groundwork for everything that followed. Today, it continues to serve an important role as the region’s leading exhibition and conference venue, hosting major international events year round.
2. Burj Al Arab (1999 to 2000)
Height: 321 metres
Location: Jumeirah Beach
Reign: Less than 1 year
In 1999, the title passed to Burj Al Arab, one of the most photographed buildings in the world. Built on its own artificial island roughly 280 metres off the coast of Jumeirah, this sail-shaped hotel became an instant global icon and one of the earliest examples of how Dubai skyscrapers could function as both architectural landmarks and tourism magnets.
At 321 metres, Burj Al Arab was the tallest all suite hotel in the world at the time of completion. Although its reign as the tallest building in the country was brief, its cultural impact has lasted far longer. More than two decades later, Burj Al Arab remains synonymous with luxury hospitality and is often the first image that comes to mind when people picture the Dubai skyline.
3. Emirates Tower One (2000 to 2009)
Height: 354 metres
Location: Sheikh Zayed Road
Reign: 9 years
The new millennium brought a new contender. Emirates Tower One rose to 354 metres in 2000, quickly overtaking Burj Al Arab to become the tallest building in both Dubai and the wider UAE. At the time of completion, this 56 storey tower ranked as the 9th tallest commercial building in the world.
Together with its companion, Emirates Tower Two, the complex formed one of the most distinctive twin tower developments anywhere on the planet. Emirates Tower One also holds a special place in the history of the Dubai skyline as one of the first major supertall buildings to be constructed along Sheikh Zayed Road, a corridor that would go on to become the city’s primary business spine, lined with dozens of high rises in the years that followed.
4. Almas Tower (2009 to 2010)
Height: 360 metres
Location: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Reign: Less than 1 year
Almas Tower briefly held the title of tallest building in the country between 2009 and 2010, just before the arrival of Burj Khalifa. Standing at 360 metres across 68 floors, its striking diamond shaped podium gave it an unmistakable presence in the Jumeirah Lake Towers district, an area that had not yet developed into the bustling business hub it is today.
At the time, Almas Tower ranked as the third tallest building in the Middle East and the 12th tallest office use building in the world. Its arrival signalled that Dubai’s ambitions were no longer confined to Sheikh Zayed Road, and that new districts across the city were ready to compete for a place among the tallest buildings in Dubai.
5. Burj Khalifa (2010 to Present)
Height: 828 metres
Location: Downtown Dubai
Reign: 16 years and counting
No discussion of the tallest buildings in the UAE would be complete without Burj Khalifa. Completed in 2010, this 163 storey tower instantly became not only the tallest building in the country, but the tallest building on the entire planet, a title it continues to hold today.
As of April 2026, Burj Khalifa remains the world’s tallest building at 2,717 feet, standing nearly 500 feet taller than the second placed building globally.
The impact of Burj Khalifa on the Dubai skyline has been transformative. It anchored the development of Downtown Dubai, helped establish the Dubai Mall district as one of the most visited destinations in the world, and cemented the city’s reputation as a global leader in ambitious architecture and supertall buildings. More than 16 years after its completion, it remains the undisputed centrepiece of Dubai’s skyline.
6. Marina 101 (Currently 2nd Tallest)
Height: 425 metres
Location: Dubai Marina
Status: Completed
Marina 101 stands as the second tallest building in Dubai, and is also recognised as the world’s fourth tallest residential skyscraper.
This mixed use tower features 101 floors served by 29 elevators, and its sheer scale makes it one of the most prominent Dubai skyscrapers along the Marina waterfront. While it sits far below Burj Khalifa in height, Marina 101 represents just how dense and vertical the Dubai Marina district has become, with multiple supertall buildings clustered within a relatively small area.
7. Princess Tower (Currently 3rd Tallest)
Height: 413.4 metres
Location: Dubai Marina
Status: Completed
Princess Tower held a unique distinction between 2012 and 2015 as the tallest residential tower in the world, a title that highlighted Dubai’s growing role in shaping global residential architecture. With 101 floors and more than 760 apartments, it remains one of the most recognisable Dubai skyscrapers, thanks largely to its distinctive dome shaped crown.
Even though newer towers have since surpassed it on the global stage, Princess Tower continues to be one of the defining residential addresses among the tallest buildings in Dubai, particularly for those drawn to the energy of the Marina lifestyle.
8. 23 Marina (Currently 4th Tallest)
Height: 392.8 metres
Location: Dubai Marina
Status: Completed
23 Marina was the world’s tallest residential building until it was eventually surpassed by a taller tower. Completed in 2012, its octagonal design, often compared to the shape of a ballpoint pen, gives it a distinctive silhouette within the dense cluster of supertall buildings that define the Marina skyline.
With private elevators and plunge pools available to residents, 23 Marina has long been considered one of the more exclusive addresses among Dubai’s residential towers, and it continues to hold its place firmly within the list of tallest buildings in Dubai.
9. Elite Residence (Currently 5th Tallest)
Height: 381 metres
Location: Dubai Marina
Status: Completed
Rounding out the current top five, Elite Residence stands at 381 metres and was once the third tallest residential building in the world at the time of its completion. Like several of its neighbours, it forms part of the tightly packed group of Dubai skyscrapers that have turned Dubai Marina into one of the most vertically dense residential districts anywhere on earth.
10. Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences (Coming Soon)
Height: 557 metres (planned)
Location: Business Bay
Status: Under construction, expected 2026
The next major shift in the Dubai skyline is already underway. Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences in Business Bay is set to become the world’s tallest residential tower, featuring over 100 storeys with units ranging from 2 to 7 bedrooms, and is estimated for completion in Q2 2026.
Developed through a partnership between Binghatti Developers and luxury brand Jacob & Co, Burj Binghatti is designed with diamond shaped spires inspired by high end timepieces. As the future tallest residential hypertower, it offers a rare trophy asset with a 15 to 20 percent capital appreciation forecast by its Q2 2026 handover, alongside projected net rental yields of 7 to 9 percent.
While Burj Binghatti will not surpass Burj Khalifa in overall height, its arrival will mark a new milestone for supertall buildings in the residential category, and it is already being closely watched by investors looking at Business Bay.
From a 149 metre tower in 1979 to the 828 metre giant that is Burj Khalifa, each entry on this list of tallest buildings in UAE represents a milestone in Dubai’s transformation. And with Burj Binghatti set to redefine residential living in Business Bay later this year, the next chapter of the Dubai skyline is already being written.
At RGP Properties, we help clients explore properties near these iconic landmarks, whether you’re drawn to the energy of Downtown Dubai, the waterfront lifestyle of Dubai Marina, or the next wave of growth in Business Bay.
📞 Contact RGP Properties today to find your place within Dubai’s ever evolving skyline.
