Tallest residential buildings Africa

Africa’s residential skyline is undergoing a vertical transformation driven by rapid urbanization, rising land values, and growing demand for luxury high-rise living.

Across major cities such as Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, and Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, residential skyscrapers have emerged as symbols of wealth, ambition, and long-term investor confidence. These towers are not just homes.

They are high-value real estate assets attracting foreign capital, diaspora wealth, and institutional developers betting on Africa’s urban future. While South Africa remains dominant, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt are fast closing the gap.

Early pioneers like South Africa’s Ponte City Apartments redefined residential height decades ago, while newer developments such as Lagos’ Eko Pearl Towers and Egypt’s Alamein Downtown residences signal a shift toward ultra-luxury vertical living with global standards.

Geographically, South Africa still dominates Africa’s tallest residential buildings, but West and East Africa are closing the gap.

Nigeria and Kenya, in particular, are emerging as serious players, reflecting expanding wealth pools and maturing property markets.

As affordability, sustainability, and urban congestion remain pressing challenges, these ten (10) towers profiled by Shore Africa also expose the tension between elite real estate and inclusive city planning.

1. Ponte City Apartments
Country: South Africa
Standing 173 meters tall with 54 floors, Ponte City remains Africa’s most iconic residential skyscraper. Built in Johannesburg in the 1970s, it has a globally recognised cylindrical, hollow-core design. Once a symbol of urban decline, it has since become a landmark of regeneration and high-density city living.

2. Pearl Dawn
Country: South Africa
At 152 meters and 31 floors, Pearl Dawn towers over Durban’s skyline. Developed as a luxury beachfront residence, it reflects KwaZulu-Natal’s growing appeal to high-net-worth homeowners seeking ocean views, exclusivity, and premium urban amenities.

3. Champagne Pearl Tower
Country: Nigeria
Rising about 134 meters with 34 floors, Champagne Pearl is part of Lagos’ Eko Pearl Towers development. It represents Nigeria’s boldest statement in luxury residential real estate, targeting wealthy locals, expatriates, and global investors drawn to Lagos’ commercial dominance.

4. Le Mac
Country: Kenya
Le Mac reaches roughly 126 meters across 30 floors in Nairobi’s Westlands district. Positioned as a luxury residential address, it underscores Nairobi’s evolution into East Africa’s most sophisticated high-rise housing market.

5. Alamein Downtown Residential Towers
Country: Egypt
Located along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, Alamein Downtown’s residential towers form part of a massive state-backed urban development. They reflect Egypt’s strategy of creating new, high-density cities anchored by upscale vertical housing.

6. Eko Atlantic Residential Towers
Country: Nigeria
Several residential towers within Eko Atlantic City approach landmark heights. Built on reclaimed land, they symbolize Nigeria’s ambition to create a globally competitive financial and residential hub on the Atlantic shoreline.

7. The Leonardo Residences
Country: South Africa
Part of Johannesburg’s tallest mixed-use development, The Leonardo includes high-rise luxury residences catering to ultra-wealthy buyers. It blends residential living with hospitality and commercial spaces in Sandton’s financial district.

8. The Address Boulevard Residences
Country: Egypt
These high-rise residential towers are tied to Egypt’s New Administrative Capital push, offering premium living for political elites, executives, and investors aligned with the country’s modernization drive.

9. Founty Beach Residences
Country: Morocco
Agadir’s luxury beachfront residential towers, though fewer in number, stand among North Africa’s tallest. They reflect Morocco’s growing appeal to international buyers and tourism-linked real estate investors.

10. 88 Nairobi Condominium Tower
Country: Kenya
88 Nairobi Condominium Tower, located in Upper Hill, Nairobi, is the tallest residential tower currently under construction in Kenya and is set to be the tallest residential building in Sub-Saharan Africa upon completion. Developed by Lordship Africa, this 44-to-48-floor skyscraper stands 150-176 meters high and features luxury apartments, with completion expected in early 2025 to 2026.