At a Glance
- Africa’s skylines showcase national pride, engineering skill, and bold architectural ambition.
- Egypt’s Iconic Tower leads the continent’s tallest buildings, reflecting Vision 2030 renewal.
- From Nairobi to Johannesburg, new towers redefine Africa’s business and cultural landscape.
Africa’s skylines are reaching new heights. From Cairo to Cape Town, glass and steel now rise where once only low-rise silhouettes stood.
The new towers tell stories of ambition, engineering skill, and national pride, physical proof of a continent steadily shaping its own modern identity.
From North Africa’s desert skylines to East Africa’s business corridors and West Africa’s coastal towers, these buildings mirror the continent’s changing story, one built on vision, resilience, and a deep sense of progress.
These are the fifteen tallest buildings chronicled by shore.africa defining Africa’s urban landscape.
- Iconic Tower
Country: Egypt
Height: 393.8 meters (1,292 ft) tall with 77 floors
Location: located in the New Administrative Capital, outside Cairo. This skyscraper in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital is not only the tallest in the country but also the tallest building in Africa. Completed in 2024, it serves as a mixed-use development, primarily for office use. The 77-story structure anchors Egypt’s Vision 2030 plan. Its clean lines and glass façade reflect both architectural precision and national renewal, housing offices, hotels, and viewing decks that look out across the desert skyline.
- Great Mosque of Algiers Tower
Country: Algeria
Height: 264.3 meters (869 ft) (36 floors)
Location: Algiers, Algeria. Completed in 2019, the Great Mosque of Algiers Tower—also known as the Djamaa El Djazair minaret—is the tallest structure in Algeria and the tallest minaret in the world. Part of the Grand Mosque complex, it features a combination of Islamic architecture and modern design, housing observation decks, cultural spaces, and a library. The tower stands as a symbol of Algeria’s architectural ambition and religious heritage. Overlooking the Mediterranean, it blends devotion and design, serving as both a religious landmark and a point of civic pride. - Mohammed VI Tower
Country: Morocco
Height: 250 meters (820 ft) tall, which is 55 floors
Location: Located in Salé, near the Bouregreg River. Completed in 2023, this skyscraper is the tallest building in North Africa and the second tallest in Africa. It features a mix of residential, office, and hotel spaces and is designed to meet international green building standards, including LEED Gold and HQE certifications. - The Leonardo
Country: South Africa
Height: 234 meters (768 ft) tall, which is 55 floors
Location: mixed-use development in Sandton, Johannesburg. Rising from Johannesburg’s Sandton district, The Leonardo is a marker of South Africa’s entrepreneurial drive. Completed in 2019, the 56-story tower mixes luxury apartments, offices, and art spaces — a meeting point of business and lifestyle in one of Africa’s busiest cities. - Carlton Centre
Country: South Africa
Height: 223 meters (732 ft) tall. This is 50 floors
Location: office and shopping complex in Johannesburg. Opened in 1973, the Carlton Centre once defined Johannesburg’s skyline and business life. For decades, it was Africa’s tallest building — a proud symbol of urban growth during a transformative era. Today, it stands as a link between the city’s past and its evolving economy. - Hassan II Mosque (Minaret)
Country: Morocco
Height: 210 meters tall
Location: Located in Casablanca. Completed in 1993, the minaret of the Hassan II Mosque is the tallest religious structure in the world. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it is a defining landmark of Moroccan architecture and Islamic heritage - Commercial Bank of Ethiopia HQ
Country: Ethiopia
Height: 209.3 meters (687 ft) tall /46 floors
Location: Located in Addis Ababa.
Completed in 2021, this skyscraper is the tallest building in Ethiopia and East Africa. It serves as the headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and symbolizes the country’s growing financial and economic ambitions. - Alamein Downtown Iconic Tower
Country: Egypt
Height: Between 207.8 meters (56 floors)
Location: The Alamein Downtown Iconic Tower, located in the heart of New Alamein City, Egypt, is a prominent addition to the city’s downtown development. Recently completed in 2025, the development consists of four iconic towers — Tower 1, Tower 2, Tower 3, and Tower 4 — making it a significant architectural landmark in the region. - Britam Tower
Country: Kenya
Height: 200.1 meters (656 ft) tall. This is 31 floors
Location: office complex in Upper Hill, Nairobi. It was completed in 2017.
With its crystal-shaped façade, Britam Tower has become one of Nairobi’s architectural landmarks. Completed in 2017, it was built with natural light and energy conservation in mind, reflecting Kenya’s push for innovation and regional leadership. - CBE Headquarters
Country: Ethiopia
Height: 198 meters tall(46 floors)
Location: Commercial Bank of Ethiopia headquarters in Addis Ababa - Nairobi Global Trade Centre (GTC) Tower
Country: Kenya
Height: 184 meters (604 ft). It has 43 floors
Location: office block in Westlands, Nairobi
The 43-story GTC Tower opened in 2021 as part of a vast mixed-use complex. Combining offices, luxury apartments, and a hotel, it represents Nairobi’s growing role as an international business hub. - Ponte City
Country: South Africa
Height: 172.8-173 meters tall( 54 floors)
Location: residential skyscraper in Johannesburg - UAP Tower
Country: Kenya
Height: 163 meters (535 ft) tall/ 33 floors
Location: office space in Upper Hill, Nairobi
Completed in 2016, the UAP Tower serves as the headquarters of UAP Old Mutual. The 33-floor building remains a key fixture in Nairobi’s financial district, reflecting the city’s steady commercial rise. - NECOM House
Country: Nigeria
Height: 160.3 meters (525 ft) tall. it has 32 floors
Location: telecommunications headquarters in Lagos. It was completed in 1979. Formerly Built in 1979, NECOM House once held the title of Africa’s tallest building. Overlooking Lagos Island, it originally housed Nigeria’s telecom operations and still stands as a reminder of the nation’s early economic ambition and enduring modern spirit. - Tanzania Ports Authority Tower
Country: Tanzania
Height: 157 meters tall (40 floors)
Location: headquarters of Tanzania Ports Authority in Dar es Salaam
