Inspired by the symbolism of the circle and the sphere, architects have been designing circular buildings since the ancient times. Round towers and spherical domes have been used notably throughout the Greek and Roman times, and more recently in modern architecture in the development of planetariums and theaters. Nearly all of these buildings use the circular shape in the floor plan, but in these five examples the shape has been utilized in the vertical orientation.

The Al Dar Headquarters, located in Abu Dhabi, looks like a coin standing on its edge. It comprises of two circular convex shaped facades linked by a narrow band of indented glazing. This iconic fully glazed structure is completely circular in elevation and curved in all other directions. The building is 121 meters tall and has 23 floors. The building was designed by MZ Architects.