Long before Sheikh Zayed Road became the skyline it is today, the Nasser Rashid Lootah Building was already standing. Completed in 1974, the 15-storey, 65-metre residential tower was one of the first three buildings near the First Roundabout, back when the area was largely undeveloped. It earned its nickname after a neon Toyota sign went up on its roof in 1981, a fixture so recognisable that its temporary removal in 2018, when the advertising contract lapsed, sparked genuine nostalgia. Toyota UAE reinstalled the sign in June 2022 after a four-year gap.
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Why Is Dubai’s 52-Yo Toyota Building Getting Demolished?
According to the building’s real estate management, as mentioned in the Gulf News report, the tower is now slated for demolition in 2027. This ends a run of more than five decades of housing one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The news follows social media videos of tenants clearing out and sharing memories. Those with valid contracts can stay until December 2026, though some residents are already relocating ahead of the deadline.
Cover Image Courtesy: Reddit/r/OnlyInDubai
