SZR Landmark Prepares for 2027 Demolition as Tenants Move Out
The 15-storey Nasser Rashid Lootah Building along Sheikh Zayed Road, built back in 1974 when the strip was little more than a sandy path, is heading into its final chapter. Long recognized by generations of commuters for the massive red-and-white advertisement on its roof, the prime city-center landmark is officially scheduled for demolition in 2027.
Phased Evictions Begin as SZR Pioneer Prepares to Clear the Site
Property management has confirmed that residents are now vacating the 15-storey tower in phases ahead of the 2027 site clearance. While the original residential structure is coming down to make way for future development in the heart of the city, Al-Futtaim Toyota confirmed the rooftop sign itself will be preserved, with plans underway for one last surprise before the building is taken down.
The red-and-white sign first went up on top of the tower in 1981, standing for nearly four decades before a brief removal in 2018 when its advertising contract expired. Popular demand brought the logo back in 2022, cementing the address as an informal wayfinding marker for drivers heading past Karama and Jumeirah. Jacques Brent, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Toyota, noted that while the physical story of the 1974 tower is drawing to a close, the sign remains an enduring symbol of the city’s visual heritage and dynamic history of development.
Long-term residents recall the tower as one of the first high-rises to define the corridor, serving as a welcome marker for commuters arriving from long drives. Current tenants will continue moving out in staged phases leading up to the site’s scheduled demolition in 2027.
