Dubai, 1979: Looking south along Abu Dhabi Road, now Sheikh Zayed Road, with the iconic Toyota Building visible on the right, standing amid Dubai’s rapidly changing skyline.
In photos: A look back at Dubai's iconic Toyota building
Dubai’s iconic building is set to disappear from the city skyline in 2027
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A changing Dubai skyline: The Toyota building stands along Sheikh Zayed Road in this view of the landmark before its planned demolition in 2027.
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Dubai: Dubai’s iconic Toyota building is set to disappear from the city skyline, with demolition planned for 2027, marking the end of more than five decades of history on Sheikh Zayed Road.
Completed in 1974, the 15-storey Nasser Rashid Lootah Building was among the first three buildings to rise near what was then the First Roundabout. Standing about 65 metres tall, it became one of the road’s most recognizable landmarks as Dubai rapidly transformed around it.
The building earned its popular name after a bright red Toyota sign was installed on its roof in 1981. For about 40 years, the illuminated sign became a familiar sight to motorists before being removed in 2018 after the advertising contract expired.
The residential complex has housed one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments over the years. According to management, tenants with valid rental contracts can remain until December 2026, while some residents have already moved out. Its planned demolition in 2027 will close a memorable chapter in Dubai’s urban history.
A look back at the iconic building’s history through photos.
1992. On-going road development project in Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Toyota Building on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai was originally and officially named the Nasser Rashid Lootah Building. Built in 1974, it received its popular nickname from a large neon Toyota sign placed on its roof in 1981, making it an enduring landmark of the city's early skyline.
Dubai in the 1990s: An aerial view of Shaikh Zayed Road, with the iconic Toyota Building standing prominently along the evolving skyline.
2006: A view of Sheikh Zayed Road with the iconic Toyota Building standing prominently amid the city’s rapidly evolving skyline.
Dubai, 2001: Traffic flows along Sheikh Zayed Road, with the Toyota Building on the left.
Dubai, 2002: A view of Sheikh Zayed Road at the first interchange, formerly Defence Roundabout, with the Toyota Building on the right and the area where Burj Khalifa now stands visible on the left.
2007: Construction work on Interchange No.1 (Defence Roundabout on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. A view from the Toyota building.
2008: An aerial view of Defence Roundabout on Sheikh Zayed Road, looking towards the Burj Khalifa construction, with the Toyota Building visible along the evolving skyline.
2017: Defence Roundabout on Sheikh Zayed Road, with the Dubai Metro and the iconic Toyota Building shaping the city skyline.
2019: The Toyota Building stands among Dubai’s skyscrapers, with the Burj Khalifa rising behind it.
2024: The iconic Toyota Building stands at a major junction along Sheikh Zayed Road, a landmark of Dubai’s early skyscraper era.
2026: The Toyota Building remains a well-known landmark on Sheikh Zayed Road, but it is set to be demolished in 2027.
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