List of the Tallest Buildings in Abu Dhabi
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.
Abu Dhabi's Tallest Buildings at a Glance
Rank Building Height Floors Completed 1 Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid 381 m 88 2014 2 ADNOC Headquarters 342 m 65 2015 3 The Landmark 324 m 72 2013 4 Sky Tower 312 m 80 2010 5 Etihad Tower 2 305 m 77 2011 6 Addax Tower 282 m 62 2015 7 Trust Tower 278 m 60 2013 8 Etihad Tower 1 277 m 70 2011 9 Nation Towers, Tower A 268 m 65 2011 10 Etihad Tower 3 260 m 62 2011
How Abu Dhabi's Skyline Has Evolved
Abu Dhabi's race for height is relatively recent. Before the 2010s development boom, the city's tallest structure was the modest Novotel Center Hotel, which held the title from 1976 to 1990 without ever publishing a confirmed height. From there, the record passed through a sequence of hotel and bank towers, including the Silver Tower, Le Royal Méridien Hotel, the Baynunah Hilton Tower, and the National Bank of Abu Dhabi Headquarters, none of which exceeded 175 metres.
The real shift began in 2006, when the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower reached 185 metres, holding the title until Sky Tower nearly doubled that height in 2010 at 312 metres. The Landmark took over in 2011, and Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid has held the record since 2014 at 381 metres, the longest reign of any building on this list and still the tallest structure in the emirate as of 2026.
Mixed-Use Versus Single-Purpose Towers
A defining feature of Abu Dhabi's skyline, compared with Dubai's, is how many of its tallest buildings combine multiple functions rather than serving a single purpose. Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid and The Landmark both blend residential living with retail and lifestyle amenities. The Etihad Towers complex spans residential, hotel, and office use across its five towers. By contrast, ADNOC Headquarters and Addax Tower are dedicated commercial buildings, built specifically to serve as corporate and office space rather than housing residents.
This mix matters for anyone evaluating the city from an investment or business perspective. Mixed-use towers tend to offer more diversified value, with retail and lifestyle amenities supporting residential demand, while pure commercial towers like Addax compete primarily on office specification, location, and amenity packages aimed at corporate tenants.
Looking to Invest in Abu Dhabi's High-Rise Market
Abu Dhabi's tallest towers are concentrated in a small number of high-value districts, the Corniche, Al Reem Island, and the World Trade Center area, all of which remain among the most sought-after addresses in the emirate for both residential and commercial investment. If you are researching the skyline because you are considering a property purchase near one of these landmark towers, Masterpiece Property is a trusted real estate agency in Abu Dhabi that can guide you toward the right opportunity.
Masterpiece Property covers apartments, villas, townhouses, and plots across Abu Dhabi's prime communities including Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Al Raha Beach, Khalifa City, Masdar City, and Al Reef, with strong knowledge of how proximity to landmark towers and districts affects long-term property value.
Contact Masterpiece Property today at 800 666 888 to explore property opportunities near Abu Dhabi's most iconic addresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the tallest building in Abu Dhabi?
Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid is the tallest building in Abu Dhabi, standing at 381 metres with 88 floors. It is located within the World Trade Center complex and has held the title since 2014.
Is ADNOC Headquarters open to the public?
No. ADNOC Headquarters is a private commercial tower serving as the corporate base for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Public access is limited to designated business visits rather than general tourism.
Which Abu Dhabi towers have residential apartments?
Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid, The Landmark, Sky Tower, Etihad Towers, and Nation Towers all include residential units, typically alongside hotel, retail, or office space within the same development.
How does Abu Dhabi's tallest building compare to Dubai's?
Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid at 381 metres is considerably shorter than Dubai's Burj Khalifa, which stands at over 828 metres. Abu Dhabi's skyline generally favours architectural design and mixed-use functionality over record-breaking height.
What is the tallest commercial-only building in Abu Dhabi?
ADNOC Headquarters, at 342 metres and 65 floors, is the tallest building in Abu Dhabi used exclusively for commercial purposes. Addax Tower, at 282 metres, is the tallest dedicated commercial tower located off the main Abu Dhabi island, on Al Reem Island.
Which buildings make up the Etihad Towers complex?
The Etihad Towers complex consists of five towers along the Corniche, with Etihad Tower 2 the tallest at 305 metres, followed by Etihad Tower 1 at 277 metres, Etihad Tower 3 at 260 metres, Etihad Tower 4 at 234 metres, and Etihad Tower 5 at 217 metres.
When did Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid become Abu Dhabi's tallest building?
Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid became Abu Dhabi's tallest building upon completion in 2014, overtaking The Landmark, which had held the title since 2011.
