The World's Most Expensive Buildings
According to Guillaume Huault Dupuy, an independent journalist and photographer based in Brussels, the Grand Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia takes the top spot as the most expensive building in the world, with an estimated value of a staggering $100 billion. With a surface area of 456,000 m², this sacred site can accommodate up to 900,000 pilgrims, testifying to the immensity of its architecture and its importance in the Muslim religion.
Atlas magazine published this ranking, with the ITER project in France taking second place, a civil nuclear fusion research reactor located in the Bouches-du-Rhône region. This technological gem, valued at $25 billion, embodies humanity's ambition to harness the colossal power of nuclear fusion to produce clean and unlimited energy. A titanic challenge in the service of a more sustainable future.
The podium is completed by Abraj Al-Bait, a luxury residential complex in Mecca, valued at $16 billion. Next in line is the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a commercial and hotel complex renowned for its panoramic rooftop and massive infinity pool, worth $5 billion.
Other notable mentions include:
- Resort World Sentosa (Singapore): an integrated hotel-casino offering a wide range of attractions, including an aquatic park, an aquarium, and a shopping center.
- Apple Park (USA): Apple's headquarters is known for its circular and minimalist design, vast green spaces, and extensive use of glass.
- One World Trade Center (USA): standing at 541 meters, this skyscraper is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Its construction was completed in 2014, on the site of the twin towers destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.
- Emirates Palace (United Arab Emirates): this 7-star luxury hotel is renowned for its opulence and impeccable service. It features a vast spa, several gourmet restaurants, and even a gold-plated bowling alley.
- The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (USA): this hotel-casino stands out with its rooftop terraces offering breathtaking views of the city, trendy clubs, and contemporary art.
- The Shard (UK): this 310-meter-tall skyscraper houses offices, luxury apartments, restaurants, and a hotel. Its glass pyramid shape has become a symbol of London.