Dubai's Iconic Toyota Building Set for 2027 Demolition as Tenants Face Sudden Eviction

The Toyota Building in Dubai, a 15-storey residential tower and one of Sheikh Zayed Road's most recognisable landmarks, is scheduled for demolition in 2027, the Nasser Rashid Lootah Group (NRL Group) has confirmed.

Built in 1974, the residential tower stood on what was then known as the Defence Roundabout (now the first interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road) and received its famous nickname after a large neon Toyota sign was installed on its roof in 1981. Mohammed Maqdoom, a real estate co-ordinator at NRL Group, confirmed the building was scheduled for demolition in 2027. Asked why the building was being pulled down, he said: “It is an old property.”

Mr Maqdoom stated that management had not asked tenants to vacate the building and insisted their contracts remained valid until December 31, 2026. However, hundreds of residents were left without electricity and water, and were forced to vacate their apartments as Dubai Municipality started disconnecting services in phases.

Himanshu Kumar, 29, who has paid his rent for this month, will vacate the property in a day or two. For the owner of Tour with Moon Tourism LLC, the hardest part of leaving is the prospect of not finding another apartment like the one in the Toyota Building. “The view is out of this world,” he said. “My neighbours and friends with whom I have bonded over the years are priceless, and the building that helped shape my life in Dubai will soon be gone.”

Shobha Chettri, 44, and three members of her family said they had no option but to vacate their apartment on Wednesday night and move to Jumeirah 2, Al Wasl Road. She had lived there for five years. “The electricity was disconnected and in this heat we couldn't stay there any more,” said Ms Chettri, who has been in the UAE for 15 years. “We were not informed by either the management or the owners. The landlord might have known this was going to happen and we really hoped they intimated that our lives would be upended in this manner.”

The building was mostly occupied by people who lived in shared accommodation. Vengara Ayoob, 45, rented out seven apartments and partitioned them to be leased again as bed spaces with the knowledge of the NRL Group. Mr Ayoob said he has paid all his rent and had not been informed of this decision.

The Dubai skyline surrounding the Toyota Building has been changing over the course of five decades. Now, the building itself is about to become part of the emirate's past. Former resident Clyde Aguiar told The National : “Hearing the news really disrupted my day. I was born in the UAE and lived in the building from 1995 until 2019, so it was my childhood home. It was a very family-oriented building, and Thunderbolt Arcade and the bowling centre were places where we spent so much of our time. There are so many memories attached to it. It is a big shock to realise that my childhood home will no longer be standing. I have been talking to old friends about it, and we want to return to the building one more time before it is demolished.”