Project Spotlights

Inside Ethiopia’s Tallest Building in Addis Ababa

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) Tower is 200 metres tall.

Updated on

January 20, 2026

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) Tower is a 209‑metre, 53‑storey skyscraper in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Completed in 2022, it is the tallest building in East Africa.

The 150,000‑sq‑m skyscraper, located near Ethiopia Hotel off Ras Desta Damtew Street, serves as the headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

It stands as a symbol of the country’s economic growth and urban development.

Construction

Construction of the CBE Tower began on June 27, 2015, following the signing of a $303 million deal between the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), the building’s main contractor.

The tower reached its full height in the second half of 2019, although cladding work was delayed due to a shortage of foreign currency in Ethiopia.

These delays were subsequently resolved, and the building was officially inaugurated to mark the 80th anniversary of the bank.

Design

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Tower was designed by Henn Architekten, a German firm. The skyscraper features two 5‑storey podiums and 20‑metre‑deep underground parking lots.

CBE Tower includes 49 above‑ground floors, a mezzanine level, a ground floor, and four basement floors, with a total floor area of 150,000 square metres.

As one of the tallest buildings in Africa, CBE Tower houses eight conference halls, an emergency disaster waiting room, two restaurants on the top floors, and a sightseeing tower.