Abu Dhabi's skyline reflects a different philosophy from Dubai's. Rather than chasing record-breaking height, the capital's tallest towers are built around design, location, and mixed use, blending residential, office, and hospitality space into single iconic structures. This guide ranks Abu Dhabi's tallest buildings by height, with the context behind each one: what it is used for, where it sits, and why it matters if you are researching the city's skyline for investment, business, or general interest.
Abu Dhabi's Tallest Buildings, Ranked
1. Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid: 381 metres, 88 floors, completed 2014
The tallest building in Abu Dhabi, Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid sits within the World Trade Center complex at the site of the old Central Market, a historically significant crossroads in the city. Developed by Aldar Properties, the residential tower contains 474 units ranging from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom penthouses, each with a balcony. Its distinctive sloping, elliptical roof is part of a matching pair of towers that form the centrepiece of the 700,000-square-metre World Trade Center development, which also includes an office building and a hotel. The tower sits directly on Abu Dhabi's Corniche, putting residents within walking distance of the waterfront promenade and the Mall at the World Trade Center.
2. ADNOC Headquarters: 342 metres, 65 floors, completed 2015
The second-tallest building in Abu Dhabi is also one of its most distinctive, recognisable by its parallelogram-shaped base and sharp, geometric double-glazed exterior. ADNOC Headquarters serves as the corporate base for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, one of the UAE's leading energy producers, and is a purely commercial tower rather than residential. The 65-floor complex includes a Crisis Management Centre, a corniche club, and a heritage museum, alongside extensive office and conference space. It stands as a clear symbol of Abu Dhabi's energy sector and is not open to public access beyond designated business visits.
3. The Landmark: 324 metres, 72 floors, completed 2013
The Landmark, also known locally as Landmark Tower, is a mixed-use skyscraper on the Corniche combining residential apartments, commercial space, and lifestyle amenities including a fitness centre, sky garden, and restaurants. With 997 parking spaces and apartment rents starting from around AED 75,000 per year, the tower is a popular address for residents who want waterfront views of the Arabian Gulf alongside genuine day-to-day convenience. Construction began in late 2006, with a joint venture between Consolidated Contractors International Company and Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises completing the build in 2013. The Landmark held the title of Abu Dhabi's tallest building from 2011 to 2014, before Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid surpassed it.
4. Sky Tower: 312 metres, 80 floors, completed 2010
Sky Tower sits in the Shams Gate District on Al Reem Island, making it one of the tallest buildings located off the main Abu Dhabi island. It briefly held the title of tallest building in Abu Dhabi between 2010 and 2011, before The Landmark overtook it. The tower is primarily residential and remains a recognisable landmark within Reem Island's evolving skyline.
5. Etihad Tower 2: 305 metres, 77 floors, completed 2011
Etihad Tower 2 is part of the five-tower Etihad Towers complex, one of Abu Dhabi's most photographed skyline clusters. The complex sits along the Corniche and combines residential, hotel, and office space across its towers, with Etihad Tower 2 ranking as the tallest of the five.
6. Addax Tower: 282 metres, 62 floors, completed 2015
Addax Tower is Al Reem Island's tallest commercial building, located in the City of Lights district roughly one kilometre from Abu Dhabi's central business district. Unlike most towers on this list, Addax is a dedicated commercial address, home to well over 150 companies spanning banking, engineering, technology, and government-linked organisations, with rooftop amenities including a pool, gym, and sauna that are unusual for an office tower. Its column-free floor plates and all-glass facade make it a popular choice for businesses wanting flexible office layouts with waterfront views.
7. Trust Tower: 278 metres, 60 floors, completed 2013
Trust Tower stands among Abu Dhabi's tallest residential and mixed-use buildings, contributing to the city's growing cluster of high-rise towers built through the early 2010s development boom.
8. Etihad Tower 1: 277 metres, 70 floors, completed 2011
The tallest of the Etihad Towers complex by floor count, Etihad Tower 1 anchors the wider five-tower development on the Corniche, contributing to one of Abu Dhabi's most recognisable architectural ensembles.
9. Nation Towers, Tower A: 268 metres, 65 floors, completed 2011
Nation Towers is a twin-tower mixed-use development combining residential units, a hotel, and retail space, with Tower A standing as the taller of the pair. The development is known for its dramatic, sweeping architectural form along the Corniche skyline.
10. Etihad Tower 3: 260 metres, 62 floors, completed 2011
Rounding out the top ten, Etihad Tower 3 is another component of the five-tower Etihad complex, reinforcing the Corniche as the densest concentration of supertall buildings in Abu Dhabi.
