Dubai's Toyota Building to be demolished next year

The Toyota Building in Dubai, a 15-story residential tower and a well-known landmark on Sheikh Zayed Road, is set to be demolished next year, according to the Nasser Rashid Lootah Group (NRL Group). Originally built in 1974, the tower was named after a red-and-white neon billboard installed on its roof in 1981. The sign, which was removed in 2018, made a return in 2022 but the building itself will soon be a part of Dubai's past.

Many residents of the Toyota Building live in shared accommodation. Dubai authorities have been cracking down on illegal sublets and partitioned units, warning that such arrangements pose fire hazards. In June 2025, a fire in Dubai Marina, a residential block home to over 3,800 people, highlighted the potential risks associated with illegally partitioned dwellings.

Mohammed Maqdoom, a real estate co-ordinator at NRL Group, confirmed that Dubai Municipality is disconnecting electricity and water services in the Toyota Building in stages before its planned demolition. A building supervisor, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that daily inspections by Dubai Municipality workers are being conducted to monitor occupancy.

One of the Toyota Building's tenants, Himanshu Kumar, 29, expressed his intention to vacate his accommodation before the end of the month. However, he lamented the loss of his unique home and the friendships he formed there. Kumar said, "The view is out of this world. My neighbours and roommates are priceless, and the building that helped shape my life in Dubai will soon be gone. It's where my Dubai story began."

The Nasser Rashid Lootah Building, where the Toyota Building stood, was one of Dubai's first residential towers. Rayad Kamal Ayub, managing director of Rayad Group, recalled how the red-and-white neon sign became a symbol for generations. Ayub added that back in the 1980s, before Sheikh Zayed Road transformed into a bustling thoroughfare, the sign was one of the few landmarks for miles.

Manpreet Kaur, CEO and founder of Kirpa Properties, who started her Dubai journey from this landmark, expressed her sorrow over its demolition. Kaur's first home in Dubai was a shared apartment in the Toyota Building, where she stayed for six or seven months while she was settling in and building her life.

Former resident Clyde Aguiar, who lived in the building from 1995 until 2019, shared his emotional attachment to the place. Aguiar, who was born in the UAE and lived in the building until 2019, said, "There are so many memories attached to it. It is a big shock to realize it will no longer be standing. I have been talking to old friends about it, and we want to return one more time before it is demolished."