10 Of The Tallest Buildings Currently Under Construction

Exciting construction projects are happening all the time, in every corner of the globe, and here we take a look at the tallest buildings in the world that are under construction right now. 

You will notice that many of the buildings in the list below are in China. China has a very competitive landscape for building into the sky, but is also highly regulated. It has also been a challenging few years to be building skyscrapers, and some projects were put on hold due to the Covid pandemic. This list only includes those projects that are ongoing and as far as we are aware construction is continuing.        

What are the tallest buildings under construction?

Jeddah Tower, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – 3,281 feet

Jeddah Tower (previously known as Kingdom Tower) is planned to be the world's first 1 km (3,281 ft) high building. Once finished it will be the centrepiece of a tourist attraction known as Jeddah Economic City. The design of the tower was created by American architect Adrian Smith, who also designed the Burj Khalifa, but the leader of the project is Saudi Arabian prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.

Construction on the 165-floor giant halted in 2018, due to contractual issues and labour shortages, when it was only a third of the way finished. Nothing happened for five years, but in 2023 building work resumed. A completion date is not yet known, and there could be plenty more drama to come before it takes the crown of the tallest building in the world.

Greenland Jinmao International Financial Center, Nanjing, China – 1640 feet

Skyscrapers in China had a reset a few years ago when new airspace regulations put a limit on the height of buildings in cities with over 3 million people at 500 metres (1640 feet). Some projects, like the Wuhan Greenland Centre, had to be redesigned mid-way through construction. That is why you will find many Chinese buildings in this list coming in at very similar heights, like the Greenland Jinmao International Financial Center in Nanjing.

When it is completed in 2025 it will still be the world’s 12^th tallest building, at 499 metres. To enable its height it incorporates structural arches which will direct vertical loads to the corners of the tower and its foundations. In their design, they will evoke Nanjing’s ancient city walls. 

HeXi Yuzui Tower A, Nanjing, China – 1636 feet                                

This building will be the tallest in the Nanjing financial district when it is finished. It was designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture and is due for completion in 2025. The HeXi Yuzui Tower will be the commanding feature of the surrounding area and feature a 360° open-air observatory at the top that will be the highest of its kind in the world.

According to the architects, the mixed-use development incorporates considerable sustainable features, such as rainwater harvesting and a low-energy curtain wall system. 

Fuyuan Zhongshan 108 IFC, Zhongshan, China – 1634 feet                             

There is little available information about this building, other than that it will have 108 floors and is expected to be completed in 2029. Unfortunately, this is the case for many developments in China currently under construction, particularly those without confirmed architects.

Greenland International Silk Road Center, Xi’an, China – 1634 feet

Designed by the US architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Greenland International Silk Road Center will be the tallest in the Chinese city of Xi’an when it is completed in 2025. The building was initially intended to exceed the 500-metre height limit but has been redesigned with a slight size reduction.

Tianfu Center, Chengdu, China – 1604 feet                                                       

Also known as the Panda Tower, the Tianfu Center is another of China’s skyscrapers under construction that is near the country’s height limit. The centrepiece of Chengdu’s ‘Tianfu New Area’, this mixed-use development is due to be completed in 2026. According to the architects Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the tower ‘follows a mountain’s structure from base to summit through distinct sections, which are tiered from one side to the other until tapering to an iconic peak’.

North Bund Tower, Shanghai, China – 1575 feet

Shanghai’s North Bund Tower is set to become China’s first-ever all-electric building when it opens in 2026. It has a modulated triangular design which reduces wind loads and catches sunlight at oblique angles, keeping the interior cool while harvesting electricity from the solar panels on the exterior of the building.

Torre Rise, Monterrey, Mexico – 1559 feet                                                      

Located in the Obispado area of the Mexican city of Monterrey, if built Torre Rise will become the tallest skyscraper in Latin America. Ironically its closest neighbour, the Torre Obispado, is currently the holder of that crown. The 88-storey tower will be a mixed hotel, office and residential building. Construction started in 2022 and is due for completion in 2026.

Wuhan CTF Finance Center, Wuhan, China – 1558 feet

The design of this 84-floor skyscraper is certainly distinctive. Situated on the banks of the Yangtze River, the Wuhan Chow Tai Fook Finance Center includes a sunken plaza and substantial gardens at ground floor level. Construction began in 2022 and is due for completion in 2029.

What tall buildings are planned for the future?

The height limit imposed in China has put several skyscraper projects on hold that were originally designed to be higher than 500 metres. These include the Global Financial Center Tower in Shenyang and the Skyfame Center Landmark Tower in Nanning.

The Dubai Creek Tower is also permanently on hold. It was designed to be 4,300 feet high, making it easily the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa, the global tallest, is ‘only’ 2,722 feet). However, construction was suspended indefinitely in 2020 due to the pandemic and it is currently being redesigned.