Top 10 Iconic Buildings in the World (2025) and the Powerful Role of Nepali Workers

In 2025, the world’s tallest buildings aren’t just about reaching new heights with steel and glass. They’re statements of wealth, ambition, culture, and human grit. Behind these giants, there are armies of workers, engineers, and planners, and Nepali workers especially in Asia and the Middle East are right in the thick of it. Let’s look at the Top 10 Buildings of 2025, breaking down their heights, backstories, and what makes them special, while spotlighting the quiet strength Nepali workers bring to the global skyline.

Burj Khalifa – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Burj Khalifa still tops the charts in 2025, stretching a wild 828 meters into the sky. Construction started back in 2004 and wrapped up in 2010. Emaar Properties led the project, with heavyweights like Samsung C&T, BESIX, and Arabtec making it happen. The idea was simple: build a city in the sky. So you get luxury homes, offices, hotels, observation decks basically, a vertical playground for the world.

Here’s a wild detail: to pour concrete up that high, engineers had to invent a whole new pumping system. The building’s Y-shape? It isn’t just for looks. It helps the tower stand firm against the desert winds. And while the headlines usually go to the architects and developers, thousands of Nepali workers quietly did the heavy lifting scaffolding, reinforcement, finishing, and all the tough jobs that kept the project moving. Their names might not be on the blueprints, but without them, there’s no Burj Khalifa.

As for the experience, Burj Khalifa is right in the heart of Dubai, dominating the skyline and drawing in millions of visitors each year. People flock to the Armani Prive for luxury nights out or head up to the “At the Top” observation deck for views you won’t forget. If you’re hungry, the atmosphere on the 122nd floor basically lets you dine above the clouds. Just walking through Downtown Dubai, with the fountains and the buzz of the boulevard, feels like you’ve stepped into the future. The area’s packed with high-end homes and hotels, and the whole district pulses with energy, making it a must-visit for anyone in Dubai.

Merdeka 118 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Rising to about 679 meters, Merdeka 118 finished up in 2023 and now stands as Malaysia’s pride and the second-tallest building on the planet. PNB Merdeka Ventures, linked to the Malaysian government, drove the project. Inside, you’ll find offices, hotels, shops, and a sky deck with views stretching across Kuala Lumpur.

Merdeka 118 isn’t just tall, it's a symbol. Its look takes inspiration from Malaysia’s fight for independence, which gives the building a deeper meaning. The diamond-shaped glass on the outside reflects the daylight, so the tower almost seems to change as the hours go by. Travelers are already drawn to it, asking when it opened, how to get tickets, and where to catch the best views. The building’s become a hotspot for both locals and tourists, and you can feel that sense of national pride when you stand beneath it.

And again, Nepali workers played a key part especially with the interior finish, electrical systems, and safety roles. Malaysia relies on Nepali labor for its biggest construction projects, and Merdeka 118 is proof of what that partnership can achieve.

Shanghai Tower – Shanghai, China

Shanghai Tower shoots up 632 meters above Shanghai’s skyline. Finished in 2015 by Shanghai Tower Construction & Development Co. Ltd., it’s mostly a commercial hub of offices, hotels, shops, and conference centers all packed into one skyscraper.

You can’t really miss it. Sitting at 501 Middle Yincheng Road in Pudong, it’s the tallest building in China and a true symbol of modern Shanghai. Designed by Gensler, the tower gets plenty of attention for its bold, twisting shape and its focus on sustainability. It’s won praise for its innovative design and green building features, and you’ll find it featured on architecture sites and in BIM circles. Travelers check in at the luxury J Hotel near the top, while tourists weave it into their Shanghai tours, often coming straight from Pudong Airport or the city’s busy port. Even folks outside China — in places like Nepal or Chitwan — recognize the tower’s global pull.

And here’s a fact that’s just cool: that spiraling design isn’t just for show. It cuts wind loads by about 24%, making Shanghai Tower one of the most energy-efficient super talls out there. Most of the labor behind the tower was local, but the building has inspired Nepalese engineers and students, who study its design as a model for sustainable high-rises.

Makkah Royal Clock Tower – Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Standing around 601 meters tall, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower has dominated Mecca’s cityscape since 2012. Developed by the Saudi Binladin Group, its main job is to serve as a home away from home for millions of pilgrims flooding into the holy city each year.

It’s impossible to miss this landmark, looming near the Masjid al-Haram. People call it the Clock Royal Tower or just the Clock Tower. The complex includes the plush Fairmont hotel, offering visitors comfort and unbeatable access to the heart of Mecca. Pilgrims and tourists look up all sorts of details — from how many floors the tower has to the cost of a room for the night. With its massive clock faces (some of the biggest on the planet), sleek design, and top-tier hospitality, the Clock Tower stands as a symbol of faith and luxury, blending modern Islamic architecture with tradition.

One thing that stands out: you can spot those clock faces from kilometers away. Nepali workers played a big part in building the tower, especially in construction, mechanics, and maintenance. Saudi Arabia hires a huge number of Nepali workers, so Nepal has left its mark on this landmark, too.

Ping An Finance Center – Shenzhen, China

The Ping An Finance Center is hard to miss. Soaring 599 meters above Shenzhen’s Futian district, it’s the tallest building in the city and one of the highest in the world. Finished in 2017, it’s the pride of Ping An Insurance Group. Inside, you’ll find corporate offices, luxury hotels, and a public observation deck that draws crowds for its sweeping city views. People are always looking up details—where’s the Ping An Finance Center, how much does it cost to visit, what are the hours, and what’s the official website? 

Getting there’s easy, especially by metro, and honestly, the building itself sums up how fast urban China has grown. Its crisp, modern design dominates the skyline and makes it an architectural icon. The stainless steel façade isn’t just for show either. It’s built to handle typhoons, slicing through the wind with its aerodynamic shape. Most of the construction relied on local expertise, and while Nepal wasn’t directly involved, the project did help spread know-how and building tech across borders.

Lotte World Tower – Seoul, South Korea

The Lotte World Tower isn’t just another skyscraper. It rockets up 555 meters over Seoul, its glassy form grabbing your attention from almost anywhere in the city. The Lotte Group finished it in 2016, and now the place buzzes with life—residences, offices, shops, a hotel, and, of course, those jaw-dropping observation decks. People call it all sorts of names: Lotte Tower, Korea Lotte Tower, you name it. Visitors flock here for the Sky Walk and the panoramic views, and almost everyone walks away saying the experience was worth it. Construction took about six years, starting in 2011, and while the tower isn’t inside the Lotte World amusement park, it’s right next door as part of the huge Lotte World complex. 

You’ll find it in Jamsil, not Gangnam—a detail that clears up a lot of confusion. The tower itself is packed with luxury, including a hotel, and ticket prices depend on which deck you want to access. If you’re sizing it up against Seoul Tower, Lotte World Tower is taller and flashier, while Seoul Tower wins on history and symbolism. One thing that stands out: Lotte World Tower is engineered to shrug off major earthquakes and the brutal winds that sweep the peninsula. 

Nepali workers played a real role here, handling auxiliary construction, cleaning, finishing touches, and later, ongoing management. South Korea’s labor permit system brings in a lot of Nepali talent, making their mark on the city’s skyline.

One World Trade Center – New York, USA

One World Trade Center towers over Manhattan at 541 meters, finished in 2014, and built by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Sure, it’s a commercial office building at heart, but it stands for a lot more resilience, unity, the spirit of coming back stronger.

People sometimes call it 1 World Trade Center, and it sits right at the heart of the World Trade Center complex. You’ll spot it at 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY  with zip codes like 10006, 10007, or 10048, depending on which door you’re walking through. The building dominates the Lower Manhattan skyline, housing big names like Conde Nast and Advance Local. Folks are always curious about the 85th floor, too; it’s part of the building’s impressive vertical stretch.

Some call it One World Trade Center, others even refer to it as “A One Global” in international circles. Either way, it’s a symbol of modern architecture and a magnet for global business. Its reach goes far  even inspiring international branding, like A One Global Butwal.

Here’s a cool detail: the height, 1,776 feet, isn’t random. It nods to the year of American independence. While Nepalis didn’t have a direct hand in the construction, many Nepali engineers and architects study the building, especially through international firms and the global service industry. It’s a structure that keeps popping up in their textbooks and conversations.

Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre – China

The Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre rises to 530 meters and wraps up construction in 2016, thanks to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises. This isn’t just an office tower. It blends offices, homes, a hotel, and shops into one sleek skyscraper.

Locals call it CTF Guangzhou, but you’ll also hear CTF Finance Centre or CTF Finance Center. It sits right in the middle of Guangzhou’s business district and stands out as a major landmark on the city’s skyline. Inside, you’ll find everything from luxury apartments to offices and high-end retail — a real mixed-use powerhouse. Architecture and engineering students love digging into case studies about this building, mostly because of its cutting-edge design and the way it makes use of every inch vertically. People are always looking up facts about its floors, its place in China, and why it matters.

The building is famous for its super-fast elevators — some of the quickest on the planet. Nepali workers didn’t play a big role in the construction, but the project’s design and mixed-use approach have shaped how architects across Asia, including Nepal, think about future urban development.

Tianjin CTF Finance Centre – China  

Tianjin’s CTF Finance Centre shoots up 530 meters above the city’s Binhai New Area. Finished in 2019, this tower isn’t just another piece of the skyline—it’s a mix of business offices, luxury hotel rooms, and serviced apartments all stacked together. Chow Tai Fook Enterprises led the project, and folks still talk about its speedy, high-tech elevators and the way its curved glass skin makes the building both striking and energy-efficient. 

You can’t really miss it if you’re anywhere near Tianjin, and it’s become a symbol of China’s push for modern, vertical cities. Most of the work here was done by local teams, but what’s interesting is how the engineers tackled earthquake-resistant design. That kind of know-how goes a long way, especially for places like Nepal where seismic safety is a real concern.

CITIC Tower (China Zun) – Beijing, China  

In Beijing’s Central Business District, the CITIC Tower—locals sometimes just call it “China Zun”—stands tall at 528 meters. It’s the highest point in the capital, finished in 2018, and it marks the city’s ambition as a political and economic powerhouse. Developed by CITIC Group, the tower’s shape takes inspiration from ancient Chinese ritual vessels, connecting new architecture with old traditions. People often wonder about visiting, grabbing a bite in its restaurants, or what you need for travel. There’s plenty of chatter online about Beijing’s rapid growth, and buildings like this show just how quickly things are changing. While Nepali workers didn’t help build it, CITIC Tower proves you can blend tradition with cutting-edge engineering a lesson worth paying attention to for anyone shaping Nepal’s own skyline.

Nepal doesn’t put up giant skyscrapers at least not yet. But Nepali workers? They’re everywhere, building some of the world’s biggest projects from Dubai to Mecca. Their hard work, discipline, and grit keep these cities growing. Back home, Nepal’s own architecture takes a different path. Look at the Nyatapola Temple or the Kathmandu View Tower. These buildings lean into earthquake safety, cultural meaning, and sustainability. Height isn’t the main goal.

While the world’s tallest towers rise with high-tech tools and piles of money, buildings in Nepal grow from heritage, skill, and stubborn resilience. Both approaches say something real about what matters to people.

So, when you look at the top 10 tallest buildings in 2025, you see human ambition cranked all the way up. But behind every shiny steel beam, there’s more than just fancy engineering—there’s sweat, especially from Nepali workers who rarely get noticed. As Nepal starts to develop its own cities, these global monuments have a lot to teach—about safety, smart design, and careful planning. And at the same time, Nepal’s way serves as a reminder: architecture isn’t just about scraping the sky. It’s about meaning, community, and the purpose behind every brick.