Several African cities have skylines filled with modern office towers, luxury hotels and residential skyscrapers.

Some of these buildings rank among the tallest on the continent. Others are part of business districts that have expanded considerably over the past two decades.

Here are 10 African cities with modern skylines, the landmark buildings that define them and the districts where they can be found.

1. Cairo, Egypt

Landmark building: Iconic Tower — 393.8 meters

Egypt is home to Africa's tallest completed skyscraper, the Iconic Tower, located in the New Administrative Capital east of Cairo.

Completed in 2024, the 77-floor building stands approximately 394 meters tall and contains hotel, residential and office space.

The tower forms part of a new central business district developed with several other high-rise buildings. Its construction was led by China State Construction Engineering Corporation.

The New Administrative Capital is a separate planned city within the Greater Cairo region, rather than a building district in central Cairo.

2. Johannesburg, South Africa

Landmark building: The Leonardo — approximately 228 meters

Johannesburg has one of Africa's oldest established skyscraper skylines.

The Carlton Centre, completed in 1973, stands approximately 201 meters tall when measured to its architectural roof.

The Leonardo, completed in 2019 in Sandton, reaches approximately 228 meters in architectural height and is among South Africa's tallest buildings.

Johannesburg's high-rise development is spread across different districts, including the historic central business district and Sandton, which contains office headquarters, hotels and residential towers.

The city's skyline therefore combines buildings from the 1970s with more recent developments.

3. Nairobi, Kenya

Britam Tower in Upper Hill, Nairobi. PHOTO: constructionkenya.com

Landmark building: Britam Tower — 200.1 meters

Nairobi's Upper Hill and Westland's districts contain some of East Africa's most prominent modern commercial towers.

Britam Tower, completed in 2017, stands 200.1 meters tall and has a distinctive tapered design.

Other prominent buildings include the Global Trade Centre office tower, approximately 184 meters tall, and Old Mutual Tower, which reaches about 163 meters.

The Global Trade Centre development in Westland's includes office, residential and hotel facilities.

These developments sit alongside Nairobi's older central business district, where landmarks such as the Kenyatta International Convention Centre remain prominent.

4. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia HQ, Ethiopia. PHOTO: constructionreviewonline.com

Landmark building: Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Headquarters — approximately 209 meters

Addis Ababa's skyline includes one of the tallest banking headquarters in Africa.

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia headquarters reaches approximately 209 meters and rises above the city's financial district.

The building has 46 floors and was officially inaugurated in February 2022.

Other major developments include the African Union headquarters and several modern hotel and office complexes.

The Ethiopian capital has also seen new road infrastructure, mixed-use developments and high-rise construction around its central commercial districts.

5. Lagos, Nigeria

Landmark building: NECOM House — approximately 160 meters

Lagos has one of West Africa's largest concentrations of commercial and residential high-rise buildings.

NECOM House, completed in 1979, stands approximately 160 meters tall on Lagos Island.

Victoria Island and Ikoyi contain newer office towers, luxury apartments and hotels.

Eko Atlantic, a coastal development next to Victoria Island, includes Eko Pearl Towers, a group of residential high-rises.

Lagos therefore has several distinct skyline areas, including the older Lagos Island commercial district and newer developments along the Atlantic coast.

6. Casablanca, Morocco

Landmark building: Casablanca Finance City Tower — 136 meters

Casablanca's skyline includes a mixture of Art Deco buildings, modern office developments and high-rise towers.

The Casablanca Finance City Tower, completed in 2019, stands 136 meters tall and contains 27 floors above ground.

The building was designed by Morphosis Architects in collaboration with Omar Alaoui Architectes.

Another prominent landmark is the Casablanca Twin Center, whose two towers each reach approximately 115 meters.

The city's newer financial district has developed around the former Casablanca-Anfa Airport site.

7. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Landmark building: Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Tower — 162 meters (structural height)

Dar es Salaam has one of East Africa's most recognizable modern skylines, with high-rise office buildings, commercial developments and residential towers concentrated around its central business district and Indian Ocean waterfront.

The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Tower stands approximately 162 meters tall when measured to its highest structural point, with a roof height of about 157 meters. The 40-floor building serves as the headquarters of the Tanzania Ports Authority and is one of the city's tallest landmarks.

Another prominent development is the PSPF Commercial Twin Towers, which reach approximately 152.7 meters in total height, with roof heights of around 147 meters. Each tower has 35 floors.

These buildings are among the most recognizable features of Dar es Salaam's waterfront skyline, overlooking the commercial district near one of East Africa's busiest ports.

8. Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Landmark district: Le Plateau

Abidjan's Le Plateau district contains one of West Africa's most established high-rise skylines.

The district is home to government offices, financial institutions, hotels and corporate headquarters.

Notable buildings include the Postel 2001 tower, the CCIA building and La Pyramide, a distinctive concrete structure completed during the 1970s.

Abidjan also has the Tour F, a major skyscraper project designed to rise above the city's existing towers.

Le Plateau is located beside the Ébrié Lagoon, giving the district a recognizable waterfront skyline.

9. Kigali, Rwanda

Landmark building: Kigali City Tower — approximately 90 meters

Kigali's skyline is smaller in scale than those of Cairo, Johannesburg or Nairobi, but its central districts contain several modern commercial buildings.

Kigali City Tower, completed in 2011, rises approximately 90 meters and contains office and retail space.

Other prominent developments include the Kigali Convention Centre, with its illuminated dome, and the nearby Radisson Blu hotel.

The city's modern buildings are concentrated around the central business district, Kimihurura and surrounding commercial areas.

Kigali's skyline is characterised more by mid-rise architecture and landmark complexes than by very tall skyscrapers.

10. Luanda, Angola

Landmark development: Torres Atlântico

Luanda's waterfront and central districts contain numerous modern residential, office and mixed-use towers.

Prominent developments include Torres Atlântico, located in the city's central business area, and the high-rise buildings around the Marginal waterfront.

The Talatona district, south of central Luanda, also contains modern offices, residential complexes, hotels and shopping developments.

Luanda's skyline includes buildings developed during Angola's post-war construction boom, alongside older Portuguese colonial-era architecture.

The city's high-rise developments are concentrated around commercial districts and the Atlantic waterfront.

Which African City Has the Tallest Skyline?

The Greater Cairo region contains Africa's tallest completed skyscraper, the 393.8-metre Iconic Tower in Egypt's New Administrative Capital.

Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa also have completed buildings reaching approximately 200 meters or more.

However, this list is not a ranking of the cities with the greatest number of skyscrapers. It includes cities with established high-rise districts, modern landmark buildings and distinctive urban skylines.