World’s tallest residential buildings designs, modern skyscraper photos, high-rise architects

Tallest Residential Buildings in the World

post updated 16 February 2026

Tall Structures across the Globe: Apartment Skyscrapers Links + Pictures

The Sky’s the Limit – The World’s Tallest Residential Buildings

Etihad Towers Abu Dhabi 2, Abu Dhabi:

photo © DBI Design (Pty Ltd)

29 Oct 2013

World’s Tallest Residential Buildings

Hamburg, October 29, 2013 – Dubai currently dominates the market for living above the clouds. Seven of the ten tallest residential buildings in the world are located in the city on the Persian Gulf.

The desire for recognition and prestige, plus the demonstration of economic growth, are the most significant factors leading to the boom in construction, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, of such gigantic apartment palaces. A list of the world’s ten tallest residential buildings has now been compiled by Emporis (www.emporis.com), the international provider of building data.

Q1 Tower, Gold Coast City

photo © Michael Hierner

A fifteen-minute walk is all that is needed to see the four tallest residential buildings in the world, as they are all – without exception – located in Dubai’s sought-after Dubai Marina district. You might not find any real princesses in Princess Tower, the world’s tallest residential tower block, but the 441- meter-tall skyscraper compensates through its dream location right on the beach with a view of the artificial island Palm Jumeirah.

Second spot is occupied by the 395-meter-tall 23 Marina, while Elite Residence, at 380 meters, is the world’s third tallest residential building. The Torch comes in at fourth place at 337 meters; it, too, is located just a stone’s throw away from Princess Tower.

23 Marina, Dubai:

photo © Alan Millin

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Ten Highest Skyscrapers for living in

The 10 Tallest Residential Buildings

# Building Name, City, Country – Height – Architect Year:

1. Princess Tower Dubai, UAE – 414 m – Eng. Adnan Saffarini 2012
2. 23 Marina, Dubai, UAE – 395 m – KEO International Consultants 2012
3. Elite Residence, Dubai, UAE – 380 m – Eng. Adnan Saffarini 2012
4. The Torch, Dubai, UAE – 337 m – Khatib & Alami 2011
5. Q1 Tower, Gold Coast City, Australia – 322 m – The Buchan Group; Sunland Group Ltd. 2005
6. HHHR Tower, Dubai, UAE – 317 m – Al Hashemi 2010
7. Ocean Heights, Dubai, UAE – 310 m – Aedas 2010
8. Cayan Tower, Dubai, UAE – 307 m – SOM; Khatib & Alami 2013
9. Etihad Tower 2, Abu Dhabi, UAE – 305 m – DBI Design (Pty Ltd) 2011
10. Capital City Moscow Tower, Moscow, Russia – 302 m – NBBJ 2010

Source: www.emporis.com

Note, completed buildings only, eg the Mercury Tower in Moscow City, currently the tallest in Europe and also residential is not totally finished.

Princess Tower, Dubai:

photo © Michael Merola
23 Marina, Dubai

photo © Michael Merola

Outside of the United Arab Emirates, only two buildings make it into the Top 10 – Q1 Tower, on the east coast of Australia, and Capital City Moscow Tower, in Russia’s capital, Moscow. Q1 Tower, in particular, is not only remarkable for being the tallest skyscraper in the southern hemisphere, but can also show off a series of other impressive features: in addition to handsome outdoor terraces offering an stunning view of the Gold Coast from 180 meters’ and 230 meters’ height, a miniature rainforest, 30 meters high in total, was created in the form of a skygarden from the 60th to 70th floor. The tower also has an enormous steel spire that can be seen from up to 200 kilometers away and is illuminated at night.

Elite Residence, Dubai

photo © Michael Merola

The Torch, Dubai

photo © Alan Millin

The prerequisites for building giant residential palaces that dwarf all around them are particularly ideal in the Gulf Region. Firstly, there are sufficient providers of capital for major projects of this kind, and secondly, urban planning is not tied to preserving a distinctive existing skyline – meaning that such gigantic development projects can be given the green light.

Q1 Tower, Gold Coast City

photo © John Bek

HHHR Tower, Dubai

photo © Michael Merola

Whether Dubai will continue to lead the list of the world’s tallest residential buildings in such convincing manner in the future, however, is debatable. In 2015, when the skyscraper World One is projected to be completed in Mumbai, India, this tower, planned at 442 meters’ height, will take over top spot.

Ocean Heights, Dubai

photo © Michael Merola

Cayan Tower, Dubai

photo © Alan Millin

In addition, Diamond Tower, in Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia, at a projected 432 meters, and 432 Park Avenue in New York City (USA), at 426 meters in height, are also set to overtake the frontrunner from Dubai on their completion, thus raising the bar in the competition still further.

Etihad Towers 2, Abu Dhabi

photo © Axel Schmies