Reaching more than 800m into the sky above Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building on earth.
But there are several skyscrapers currently under construction that are vying to snatch away that prestigious title.
Today we take a look at the world’s future tallest buildings, all of which are located in emerging markets around the globe.
The Kingdom Tower, Saudi Arabia
- Height: 1000m
- Cost to build: SR4.6 billion (about $US1.2 billion)
- Scheduled completion year: 2017
This skyscraper in Jeddah will stretch 1km high once it is completed in 2017, easily taking the title of the world’s tallest building. The 167-storey tower now under construction in the Red Sea city will house a hotel, luxury apartments, office space and more, at a total cost of $US1.2 billion to build. The building was originally intended to reach 1.6km high, but the local geology proved to be unsuitable for a skyscraper of that size. Regardless, constructing the tower has not been without its problems. Engineers are currently grappling with how to pump wet concrete half a mile into the sky.
Sky City, China
- Height: 838m
- Cost to build: RMB 9 billion ($1.46 billion)
- Scheduled completion year: 2014
The scheduled completion of this building in Changsha, in central China, hit a roadblock last year when construction was suddenly halted amid safety fears and a lack of necessary government approvals. Once completed, the building will offer schools, a hospital, office facilities, 17 helipads and apartments for over 30,000 people. The owner has since pledged to complete the skyscraper by the end of the year, vowing that construction will take just six months.
Signature Tower, Indonesia
- Height: 638m
- Cost to build: $2 billion
- Scheduled completion year: 2020
The 111-storey Signature Tower in Jakarta will be the fifth tallest building in the world. The project would also eclipse the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur as the tallest building in southeast Asia. Located in the Sudirman Central Business District, the development includes a luxury hotel, observatory, office space, a conference center and a shopping mall. Located in one of the most active seismic zones on earth, the building’s performance-based design has been a considerable engineering challenge.
