Dubai's Iconic Toyota Building Set for Demolition After Witnessing Decades of City Expansion

Dubai’s Toyota building has long earned its landmark status. Dating back to 1974, this 15-storey block stands proudly in photographs of early Dubai, capturing Sheikh Zayed Road cutting its way through the almost empty desert. It served as one of the city’s first towers and a starting point for a frenetic pace of development that ultimately turned this stretch of road into one of the most dramatically built-up locations in the world.

Soon, the building will be no more. Its owner, the Nasser Rashid Lootah Group, has confirmed that the structure will be demolished next year.

For thousands of people over the decades, the Toyota building was much more than a historical milestone; it was a home. A former resident recalled living there for about three years after moving to Dubai in late 2004. By then, the building had already been eclipsed in height, glamour, and comfort by the dazzling skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Road, but its relative modesty made it an appealing place to live. The room, rented from a friendly Egyptian man named Hossam, who lived in the flat with his Filipina wife, was inexpensive and inclusive of all bills. Situated next to Interchange One on Sheikh Zayed Road, the location offered a short taxi ride to nearby offices.

Despite its tiled flooring, basic furniture, and threadbare curtains, the room offered a spacious environment compared to the bed spaces many other Dubai residents had to afford. The Toyota building served as a true microcosm of Dubai, housing a diverse community of Indian, Pakistani, Arab, and Russian residents.

The flat featured a noisy wall-mounted air conditioning unit, though the resident preferred using a large ceiling-mounted fan at night. Outside, cream-coloured Toyota Camrys and Nissan Altimas constantly prowled the area to pick up commuters. The ground floor housed a small shop run by an elderly man selling food, stationery, and sundry items. The lobby remained unpretentious and functional, while the lifts were almost always working.

One of the greatest highlights of the home was the setting. The room opened onto a small balcony with a stunning view down Sheikh Zayed Road toward the Dusit Thani Dubai and other shiny high-rises. During summer weekends, the resident spent days reading indoors, venturing outside during the cooler evenings to take a bus to Satwa and its Indian restaurants or walking down to Jumeirah and the Mercato Shopping Mall. The service roads beside Sheikh Zayed Road were also ideal for evening walks, buzzing with people, cafes, and inexpensive restaurants.

From the flat's bathroom window, there was a grandstand view of the construction of what would become the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, as it emerged from the desert.

In late 2007, after taking a job with The National before its April 2008 launch, the resident commuted to Abu Dhabi in a rental car before eventually relocating to the capital. A heavy bout of extreme rainfall briefly flooded the car park and the rental Toyota, but the car company only charged a few hundred dirhams for cleaning after hearing the explanation.

Leaving the Toyota building brought a sense of genuine regret, as it had provided a wonderful vantage point to witness Dubai's endless activity and growth. When the wrecking ball arrives next year, past and present residents alike are sure to feel a pang of sadness at the loss of this much-loved building.