In the 1970s, the area around these buildings was largely open land with only a handful of structures. Today, it has been transformed by Metro tracks, roads, hotels, offices and high-rise towers lining Sheikh Zayed Road.
Drive along Sheikh Zayed Road today and you’ll see skyscrapers rising on both sides. Hotels, offices and residential buildings line the route, which has become one of Dubai’s most recognisable areas. But 40 to 50 years ago, the landscape looked very different.
Much of the area was open land, with only a handful of buildings scattered along the road. Some of those early structures are still standing, while others have since been demolished and survive only in old photographs.
Here’s a look back at some of the buildings that stood along Sheikh Zayed Road before 1985.
1974 — Toyota Building
The Nasser Rashid Lootah Building was completed in 1974, long before Sheikh Zayed Road was lined with high-rise towers.
The 15-storey residential building later became known as the Toyota Building after a large Toyota sign was installed on its roof in 1981. The sign became so recognisable that residents began referring to the entire building as the Toyota Building.
More than 50 years later, the landmark is still standing. However, it is now being vacated ahead of its eventual demolition. The building’s management told that no demolition date has been set yet.
1977: Al Rostamani Twin Towers
The Al Rostamani Twin Towers were built in 1977, when only a handful of tall buildings stood in the area. The two towers became part of the small group of prominent structures along Sheikh Zayed Road.
The towers are still standing today.
1979: Dubai World Trade Centre
Sheikh Rashid Tower at the Dubai World Trade Centre opened in 1979. At the time, much of the surrounding land was still undeveloped, making the tower a striking landmark on the skyline. It went on to become one of Dubai’s most recognisable buildings.
The original tower is still standing today, although the area around it has been transformed.
1979: Trade Centre Apartments
The Trade Centre Apartments were also part of the World Trade Centre development and were among the early buildings in the area. They are still standing today.
Old photographs show how prominent the apartments were at a time when there were few other buildings around them.
1979: Metropolitan Hotel
The original Metropolitan Hotel opened on Sheikh Zayed Road in February 1979. At the time, there were few buildings farther along the road towards Abu Dhabi.
The hotel stood for more than three decades before being demolished in 2013. The site later became part of Al Habtoor City.
Old Dubai Hilton
The Dubai Hilton was another landmark featured in old photographs of the World Trade Centre area. The hotel stood close to the Trade Centre at a time when there were few large buildings nearby. It was demolished in 2007.
Early 1980s: Wafa Tower
More buildings began appearing along Sheikh Zayed Road in the early 1980s. One of them was Wafa Tower, also known as Emirates Pink Tower.
The building is still standing today and remains one of the older towers from that period.
A road that changed
The age of these buildings is only part of their story. What makes them significant is the dramatic transformation of the area around them.
Someone looking out from one of these buildings in the 1970s would have seen mostly open land, with only a handful of structures nearby.
Today, the same view would reveal Metro tracks, busy roads, hotels, offices and high-rise towers stretching along Sheikh Zayed Road — a striking reminder of how dramatically Dubai has changed in just a few decades.
