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New York City CBD -

New York City's Financial District is in Lower Manhattan. One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the USA, dominates the skyline.

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London CBD -

The City of London contains the British capital's historical quarter and its primary central business. Noteworthy buildings set within the "Square Mile" include 30 St Mary Axe, referred to as The Gherkin, and 122 Leadenhall Street, known also as The Cheesegrater.

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Paris CBD -

La Défense is the French capital's major financial hub. The district's architectural reference point is the La Grande Arche de la Défense.

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Hong Kong CBD -

Hong Kong's Central District encompasses its central business district and is set on the north shore of Hong Kong Island. Notable buildings dominating the skyline include the Bank of China Tower and Cheung Kong Center.

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Tokyo CBD -

Tokyo boasts several prime business districts, including Nishi-Shinjuku. Some of Japan's biggest corporations have their headquarters here, housed in premises such as the Sompo Japan Building and the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower.

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Singapore CBD -

Singapore's central business area is simply called Central Area, and surrounds the banks of the Singapore River and Marina Bay. Part of the neighborhood is also referred to as the Marina Bay Financial Centre, a tower complex that houses, among other international banking and financial institutions, Standard Chartered Bank, IBM, and Servcorp.

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Beijing CBD -

The super tall China World Trade Center Tower III is among several skyscrapers that loom large over Beijing's central business district. The irregular shaped China Central Television headquarters is also found here.

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São Paulo CBD -

São Paulo's Central Zone is one of the largest commercial and business districts in South America. The Brazilian city's busy Paulista Avenue serves as the location for the headquarters of many financial and cultural institutions. Incidentally, one of Brazil's tallest buildings, Edifício Itália, stands in the Central Zone.

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Seoul CBD -

Among Seoul's three principal business districts is Yeouido. Set on an island, this is the South Korean capital's main finance and investment banking district. The Federation of Korean Industries Head Office Building is among the skyscrapers seen here.

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Shanghai CBD -

Shanghai's futuristic Lujiazui skyline is one of the most photographed of China's urban landscapes. This is the city's financial hub, and it's distinguished by a collection of iconic towers such as the Shanghai World Financial Center and Jin Mao Tower.

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Dubai CBD -

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) emerged as the city's swanky new business district in 2004, and now serves as a major financial hub for Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian markets. Pictured is The Gate, DIFC's monumental portal.

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Frankfurt CBD -

Frankfurt's Bankenviertel is the most important financial center in Germany and one of the largest in Europe. Bank of America is one of the tenants occupying the Main Tower building.

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Chicago CBD -

The Loop is the central business district of Chicago and is the main section of the city's downtown area. The area has long been a hub of historical and contemporary architecture, exemplified by premises such as the 1930s-era Chicago Board of Trade Building and the Willis Tower (formally the Sears Tower and once the tallest building in the world).

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Toronto CBD -

Toronto's Financial District is considered the heart of Canada's financial services industry. In addition to major financial institutions, several Toronto-based law firms are based here. Standout buildings include First Canadian Place, the tallest structure in the country since 1976.

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San Francisco CBD -

Downtown San Francisco includes the city's financial district. Several iconic buildings are located here, notably 555 California Street and the familiar Transamerica Pyramid. All six San Francisco Fortune 500 companies—McKesson, Wells Fargo, Gap, Charles Schwab, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and Salesforce.com—are located in the district.

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Amsterdam CBD -

Zuidas, pictured here on the horizon overlooking Amsterdam's historic quarter, is the city's rapidly developing business district. Known as the "Financial Mile," Zuidas is home to a number of large multinationals, among them ABN-Amro and Akzo Nobel. The Rock and ING House number among the more striking architectural stars in the district.

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Jakarta CBD -

Most of Jakarta's business, financial, and diplomatic establishments are found within what's known as the Golden Triangle. This is one of the fastest-evolving central business districts in the Asia-Pacific region, and where some of the Indonesian capital's tallest skyscrapers are located. Many, such as Wisma 46, Menara Astra, Sinarmas MSIG, and the International Financial Center Jakarta, stand over the busy Sudirman freeway.

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Doha CBD -

Doha's financial hub is located at the northwestern end of the Corniche spectacular high rise architecture cluster. Among the prominent commercial buildings are the Qatar Financial Centre and the new Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre.

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Los Angeles CBD -

Downtown Los Angeles is effectively the city's central business district, a cluster of corporate office skyscrapers, hotels, and related services as well as banks, law firms, and real estate companies. The Wilshire Grand Center is an especially eye-catching tower, but so too is the sleek 777 Tower.

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Sydney CBD -

Sydney's central business district is also its city center. Due to its pivotal role in Australia's early history, the neighborhood is one of the oldest established areas in the country. The Sydney CBD is home to some of the largest Australian companies, as well as serving as an Asia-Pacific headquarters for many large multinationals. The CBD's Governor Phillip Tower, MLC Centre, and World Tower rank among the country's tallest skyscrapers.

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Madrid CBD -

The North-South Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid's principal thoroughfares, holds Spain's main business districts, within which stands the iconic twin office towers known as the Gate of Europe. 

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Taipei CBD -

The skyline of Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is pierced by the 509-m (1,671 ft) Taipei 101 tower, which is owned by the Taipei Financial Center Corporation. The unmistakable landmark building is the distinguishing architectural feature of the Xinyi Special District, the city's prime business district.

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Panama City CBD -

Located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, Panama City bristles with high rises. Its economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. The Area Bancária (Financial District) is recognized for several iconic buildings, including the Bicsa Financial Center and the amazing F&F Tower, celebrated for its spectacular twisting facade.

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Buenos Aires CBD -

Argentina's capital city features a number of busy financial districts, but it's Puerto Madero on the Río de la Plata riverbank that's turning heads. Besides representing the latest architectural trends in the city, Puerto Madero is attracting big-name corporate clients and is competing against the Buenos Aires' Microcentro CBD.

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Bogotá CBD -

The most important CBD in Colombia is Centro Internacional in the country's capital, Bogotá. The neighborhood, marked by some of the tallest skyscrapers on the South American continent, is the headquarters of several banks and companies such as Scotiabank Colpatria, Davivienda, and Bancolombia.

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Zurich CBD -

Zurich's central business district, known locally as "Kreis 1," ranks among the most important in the world. More than a third of all banks in Switzerland are headquartered within the Zurich Economic Zone.

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Tallin CBD -

Back in 2012, Tallinn boasted the highest number of start-ups per person among European countries. In the years since, the Estonian capital has established an enviable reputation as one of Europe's top information technology hubs. Indeed, the New York Times has characterized Estonia as "a sort of Silicon Valley on the Baltic Sea." Tallinn has two central business districts—Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol and Ülemiste "Smart" City.

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Mumbai CBD -

The Bandra Kurla Complex is a business and residential district in Bandra, Mumbai. Still evolving as a central business district, it has aided to ease the congested CBD in South Mumbia. Corporate clients number State Bank of India, Citibank, and Amazon.

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Johannesburg CBD -

Johannesburg's CBD has the densest collection of skyscrapers in Africa, an architectural troupe that includes the Carlton Centre, at 223 m (732 ft), the second-tallest building in Africa after The Leonardo, also found in Johannesburg.

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Abu Dhabi CBD -

The capital city of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is planning to locate a new central business district in its desert hinterland as part of the 2030 Vision to reflect the image of a global city. Meanwhile, landmark buildings such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower and other postmodern super tall skyscrapers continue to amaze.

Sources: (EY) (INDVSTRVS) (Gulf News)

See also: Where the rich live: the world's wealthiest neighborhoods

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