10 Tallest Buildings in Africa

Africa’s urban skylines are evolving, with modern skyscrapers redefining cityscapes from Cairo to Nairobi and Johannesburg.

These impressive towers are symbols of economic growth, architectural innovation, and urban ambition, reflecting the continent’s dynamic development. 

Each building is more than a structure—it is a statement of progress, aspiration, and the remarkable possibilities shaping Africa’s cities.

Here are the top 10 tallest buildings in Africa:

1. Iconic Tower, Egypt

Iconic Tower is a 394‑metre, 77‑storey mixed‑use skyscraper located in the New Administrative Capital’s Central Business District, east of Cairo. 

The tower reached its full height in 2024, overtaking Algeria’s Great Mosque of Algiers Tower as the tallest building in Africa. 

Designed by Dar al‑Handasah Shair & Partners, the tower combines offices, residential space and hotels and draws inspiration from Egyptian obelisks and cultural motifs.

Height: 394 metres

Floors: 77

2. Alamein Iconic Tower, Egypt

The Alamein Iconic Tower is an approximately 292‑metre‑tall skyscraper currently under construction in the New Alamein City on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coast. 

It forms the centrepiece of the Alamein Downtown Towers project, which includes several high‑rise residential and commercial buildings. 

When completed, the tower will reportedly be the tallest all‑reinforced concrete residential high‑rise in Africa and a striking landmark on the Mediterranean skyline. 

Height: 292 metres

Floors: 67 

3. Great Mosque of Algiers Tower, Algeria

The Great Mosque of Algiers Tower is a 264.3‑metre, 37‑storey structure forming the minaret of the Djamaâ el Djazaïr (Great Mosque) complex in Algiers, Algeria. 

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Completed in 2019, its soaring minaret makes it the tallest building in Algeria and, until 2024, one of Africa’s tallest structures. 

The tower includes observation decks, a museum and other public spaces, and stands as a striking landmark of contemporary Islamic architecture. 

Height: 264.3 metres

Floors: 37 

4. Mohammed VI Tower, Morocco

Mohammed VI Tower is a 250‑metre, 55‑storey mixed‑use skyscraper located in Salé, bordering Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Completed in 2024, it is the tallest building in Morocco. 

The tower houses high‑end apartments, offices, a luxury hotel and a panoramic observation deck. Its modern design and commanding height make it a landmark on the Rabat‑Salé skyline. 

Height: 250 metres

Floors: 55 

5. Leonardo, South Africa

Leonardo is a 234-metre-tall, 56-storey mixed-use development located at 75 Maude Street, just 100 metres from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton, South Africa.

Designed by South African firm Co-Arc International Architects, its sleek modernist style and glass façades make it a standout feature of Sandton’s skyline.

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Construction began on 17 November 2015, and the tower topped out in April 2019, officially claiming the title of South Africa’s tallest building, surpassing the Carlton Centre.

Height: 234 metres

Floors: 56 

6. Carlton Centre, South Africa

The Carlton Centre, a 223‑metre skyscraper and shopping centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, held the title of Africa’s tallest building from its completion in 1973 until 2019.

Designed by the US architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Carlton Centre resembles the famous One Seneca Tower in Buffalo, New York, which was completed the same year.

Height: 223 metres

Floors: 50 

7. Hassan II Mosque, Morocco

Hassan II Mosque, located in Casablanca, Morocco, features a 210‑metre minaret completed in 1993, making it the tallest religious structure in Africa.

The mosque showcases exquisite Moroccan craftsmanship, with intricate tilework, carved wood, and marble. Its minaret features an observation deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Height: 210 metres

8. CBE Headquarters, Addis Ababa

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Headquarters is a 209‑metre, 53‑storey skyscraper in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. Completed in February 2022, it is the tallest building in East Africa. 

The modern office tower serves as the headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and stands as a symbol of the country’s economic growth and urban development. 

Height: 209.3 metres

Floors: 53 

9. Alamein Downtown Towers D01 Tower 1‑4, Egypt

Alamein Downtown Towers D01 Tower 1, Tower 2, Tower 3 and Tower 4 are a set of 208‑metre, 56‑storey residential skyscrapers in New Alamein City, on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coast. 

These four towers are part of the larger Alamein Downtown development and are structurally topped out as high‑rise residential buildings. 

When completed, they will be among the tallest residential towers in the region and a prominent feature of the New Alamein skyline.

Height: 208 metres

Floors: 56  

10.  Britam Tower, Kenya

Britam Tower, a 200-metre-tall office complex in Upper Hill, Nairobi, was officially opened to the public in July 2018, overtaking UAP Old Mutual Tower as the tallest building in Kenya.

The 32-storey tower, whose construction started in early 2013 and ended in September 2017, boasts a unique prism design. At its widest, the building looks like a black pyramid with the top corner missing; from other views, it becomes a more slender black prism.

In 2018, Britam Tower became the first African building to be featured in the Emporis Skyscrapers Award’s 19-year history, ranking 10th among the world’s best skyscrapers.

Height: 200.1 metres (including architectural features)

Floors: 32

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