The 20 Most Towering Skylines Across the Globe

A city's skyline is often the first impression it leaves on visitors, serving as a visual testament to its ambition and grandeur. Constructing record-breaking skyscrapers not only elevates a city's profile but also cements its status as a global icon. From the bustling streets of New York to the futuristic landscape of Singapore, these cities are home to the planet's most towering skylines.

Buildworld meticulously curated this ranking by examining a database encompassing over 100,000 skyscrapers and high-rise structures. Instead of focusing solely on megatall buildings (those surpassing 600 meters), the retailer calculated the average height of the top 50 buildings in each city to provide a more comprehensive representation of its skyline.

Dubai, located in the United Arab Emirates, is renowned for having the most awe-inspiring skyline, alongside hosting the tallest individual skyscraper. The average height of its tallest structures reaches 323.9 meters, or 1062.6 feet. For context, the Burj Khalifa—Dubai's and the world's tallest building—soars to an astonishing 2716.5 feet.

Following closely is New York City, home to legendary skyscrapers such as 1 World Trade Center and the Empire State Building, which contribute to an average skyline height of 299.1 meters, or 981.2 feet. Chinese urban centers dominate the rankings, with Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Guangzhou securing the third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively.

In the realm of architectural marvels, certain cities have focused more on the number of skyscrapers rather than their height. After exploring this list, dive into the cities globally that boast the highest number of skyscrapers here.

The World's 20 Most Towering Skylines

1. Dubai // United Arab Emirates
2. New York City // United States
3. Shenzhen // China
4. Shanghai // China
5. Guangzhou // China
6. Chicago // United States
7. Hong Kong
8. Chongqing // China
9. Kuala Lumpur // Malaysia
10. Wuhan // China
11. Jakarta // Indonesia
12. Mumbai // India
13. Tianjin // China
14. Nanning // China
15. Bangkok // Thailand
16. Singapore
17. Nanjing // China
18. Tokyo // Japan
19. Toronto // Canada
20. Melbourne // Australia