As of 2023, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, remained the undisputed tallest building in the world, a title it has held since its completion in 2010. Standing at a staggering height of 828 meters (2,717 feet) with 163 floors, it surpassed the previous record-holder, Taipei 101, by a massive margin. The building serves as a multi-use structure containing luxury residences, corporate suites, and the world-renowned Armani Hotel. In 2023, while several "megatall" projects were in various stages of planning or construction—most notably the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which aims to be the first 1,000-meter building—construction delays on those projects ensured that the Burj Khalifa faced no immediate competition for its crown. The engineering of the Burj Khalifa is famous for its "Y-shaped" tripartite floor plan, which reduces wind forces, and its high-performance exterior cladding designed to withstand the extreme desert heat. In 2026, it continues to be the benchmark for vertical architecture, though the "race to the sky" in the Middle East remains a very active and competitive endeavor for urban planners.