This document summarizes 7 of the tallest skyscrapers in the Middle East, including Burj Khalifa in Dubai (828m), the tallest building in the world. It provides details on each skyscraper such as location, number of stories, special features, and purpose. The skyscrapers highlighted are in Dubai, Doha, Mecca, Tehran, Kuwait City, Istanbul, and Manama and range in height from 260m to 828m. The document demonstrates the rapid growth of skyscrapers across the Middle East in recent decades.

1. 7 of the Tallest Skyscrapers
in the Middle East
Ehsan Bayat

2. William Le Baron Jenney’s Home Insurance Building, the first building to “scrape the sky,” was completed
in 1885 in Chicago, Illinois. Since the pioneering construction of the 10-story building, skyscrapers have
grown in size exponentially. A combination of advances in physics, architecture, and technology have
allowed engineers and contractors to add floor after floor to these modern marvels, and commercial real
estate developers are still dedicated to conquering limits and building higher.
According to the common definition of the word, skyscrapers usually have a rough minimum of 40-50
stories and stand at least 120-150 meters high. However, buildings of this baseline height might go
unnoticed in many large cities today—especially in the Middle East, where a skyscraper building boom is
ongoing. The region is home to the world’s tallest building, which stands 828 meters tall in Dubai, UAE. In
addition, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat estimated that by the end of 2015, the Middle
East would have a total of 289 buildings at least 150 meters tall. This is impressive considering that even
20 years ago, skyscrapers were few and far between in the region.
Here is a closer look at seven of the tallest skyscrapers in the Middle East:

3. Bahrain Financial Harbour – Manama, Bahrain (260m)
This building actually includes two twin towers of
53 stories each standing side by side. Together,
they are the tallest buildings in Bahrain. Those
who work in the buildings benefit from panoramic
views of the surrounding coastline, as well easy
access to Bab al Bahrain, the commercial heart of
the small island nation. In addition to premier office
space, BFH houses the Harbour Mall, which
comprises 22,000 square meters of retail and
commercial space and four levels of parking.
Image courtesy WikiMedia

4. Istanbul Sapphire – Istanbul, Turkey (261m)
Completed in 2010, the Istanbul Sapphire is the largest
building in Turkey. The 55-story, concrete residential
center includes a shopping mall, vertical gardens, and a
rooftop café. In addition, the designers placed six levels of
parking underground for residents, and every ninth floor
features a different recreational facility, such as a miniature
golf course or pool. Tourists can also visit the tower and
enjoy the views from the roof for a small fee.
Image courtesy WikiMedia

5. Al Hamra Tower – Kuwait City, Kuwait (414m)
Located in the commercial district of Kuwait City, Al Hamra Tower is
the tallest carved skyscraper in the world at 80 levels. Five levels of
the building are dedicated to a luxury shopping center, and the roof
features an outdoor garden. In addition to state-of-the-art office and
commercial space, the rest of the tower includes restaurants and a
number of entertainment venues. Built with the future in mind, Al
Hamra is equipped with an advanced fiber optic infrastructure, which
facilitates technology upgrades.
Image courtesy WikiMedia

6. Milad Tower – Tehran, Iran (435m)
When it was built in 2008, the Milad Tower was
the fourth-tallest freestanding telecommunications
tower in the world. Technically, it is not a true
skyscraper, as it consists of a base level of six
floors, tall concrete shaft, and a top level of 12
floors. The top level features multiple observation
decks and a revolving restaurant, which offers
guests the opportunity to take in all of the
surroundings while they enjoy their meal. Six
elevators transport people from the ground level to
the top, and each elevator shaft is surrounded by
glass, allowing visitors to take in the views as they
ascend.
Image courtesy WikiMedia

7. Dubai Towers Doha – Doha, Qatar (436m)
The winner of an international design competition in 2004, Dubai Towers Doha is a mixed-use
development current under construction in Qatar. When complete, it will be the tallest skyscraper in
the country. Designers from the firm RMJM chose a high-end style for the tower in order to encourage
similar construction in the area. With 91 above-ground floors, Dubai Towers Doha will contain a five-
star hotel, residential suites, and premium office space.

8. Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel – Mecca, Saudi Arabia (601m)
The Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel cost an estimated $1.8 billion in
U.S. dollars to build, and it now enjoys status as one of the tallest
hotels in the world. It also includes the world’s largest clock face.
Situated across from the Masjid al-Haram, the Sacred Mosque, the
multi-tower hotel provides accommodations for those making their
pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. In addition to more than 1,000
guest room suites, the tower complex features apartments, a shopping
mall, several restaurants, and two heliports. It also offers a 1,500-
person conference center and a prayer hall for nearly 4,000 persons.
Image courtesy WikiMedia

9. Burj Khalifa – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (828m)
As the current tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa has garnered several
records; it has the longest-traveling elevator and the highest occupied floor,
for example. Designers and architects looked to the hymenocallis flower for
inspiration when creating blueprints for the 160-story building, which is visible
in the Dubai skyline from as far as 95 kilometers away. For many, the
skyscraper represents the growing economic power of the Middle East, as well
as the international teamwork required to make the megatall structure a reality.
Burj Khalifa houses corporate suites, a hotel, residential space, restaurants, and
several observation decks that are popular with tourists.
Image courtesy WikiMedia