John Harris' original WTC design was for 34 floors.
Sheikh Rashid ordered an additional 5 floors when construction reached 8 floors
With 39 floors plus added height of a radio mast, WTC became UAE's tallest building.
Sheikh Rashid with John Harris
Image by John Harris Archives
Sheikh Rashid decided to build Dubai's World Trade Centre Building in an area then remote from Dubai.
He faced opposition and criticism
DWTC came to symbolise Dubai but now overwhelmed by many taller, more extravagant buildings
DWTC remains instantly recognisable and distinct, justifying Sheikh Rashid's foresight.
There is a suggestion Sheikh Rashid's idea for the Dubai World Trade Centre originated from his USA visit (to watch horse racing) in 1970s.
In fact Sheikh Rashid instructed John Harris (Architects) to begin design work on a Dubai World Trade Centre well before New York's World Trade Centre completed construction.
Dubai's World Trade Center grew out of an idea Sheikh Rashid had after an informal visit to Dubai by HH Queen Elizabeth the Second on her way back to UK. She had directed her aircraft to refuel in Dubai instead of Bahrain. HH Queen Elizabeth had met Sheikh Rashid previously and they had become good friends. Her aircraft landed at Dubai's new Airport Terminal Building where a British Trade Exhibition was in progress. Queen Elizabeth toured the Exhibition accompanied by Sheikh Rashid before departing for UK.
Subsequently Sheikh Rashid developed the idea of an Exhibition Center attached to Dubai Airport but that proved to be impractical
Sheikh Rashid instructed John Harris to develop a plan for an Exhibition Center in Dubai. John returned to London and allocated the task to one of his Architects. He produced a proposal for three linked buildings as exhibition halls that were low height. Sheikh Rashid rejected the design telling John Harris he wanted a hi rise building to be the centrepiece of the exhibition complex.
At that time several countries were building World Trade Centre including New York, Singapore and Tokyo. John Harris visited all these sites and more to gain ideas. He returned to Dubai to develop his ideas into a proposal for Sheikh Rashid's consideration
At the same time Sheikh Rashid had been quietly buying up land at the Dubai end of the Abu Dhabi Road to the point owned a very large tract of land, much more than was needed to build an Exhibition Center.
John Harris was keen to build a Twin Tower Trade Center similar to that of New York but the land Sheikh Rashid wanted to allocate for the project was too small. John Harris had to redesign his plan into a single tower,
Sheikh Rashid's proposal to build the 39 storey tower block generated a flood of criticism - "Too far from town", "Not commercially viable", "Over ambitious", "An exercise in futility". That criticism came when Sheikh Rashid was also embarking on major projects (Dubai Drydocks, Jebel Ali Port) regarded as risky by influential Dubaians. Land chosen for DWTC was then seen as remote from the city.
John Harris (Architects) designed Dubai's World Trade Centre. John Harris recalls:
I was leaving Dubai and flying back to London.
My suitcase had been placed on the new hoist at Dubai’s International Airport and sent down to the loader.
At that moment a hand rested on my shoulder and a voice said, ‘Sheikh Rashid wants to see you.’
I explained about my luggage, but of course my suitcase went one way and I went the other.
John Harris Architect
That story led to the myth that the "tap on his shoulder" was the first John Harris knew of the WTC. In fact the "tap on the shoulder" was telling John Harris that Sheikh Rashid had decided to go ahead with the proposal John had put to Sheikh Rashid.
Bernard Sunley and Co were appointed to construct the World Trade Centre, Exhibition Halls and Trade Centre Apartments. Work was completed in 1979
Bernard Sunley and Co were appointed to construct the World Trade Centre, Exhibition Halls and Trade Centre Apartments. Work started in 1975 and completed in 1979
Dubai's World Trade Center was formally opened by HH Queen Elizabeth 2 during her State visit to Dubai in 1979
Credit John R Harris Library
John dedicated the next seven years to completing the project. Abu Dhabi began building a similar tower so a competition for the tallest UAE building began. Dubai's World Trade Centre became the tallest by increasing the number of floors from 36 to 39 then increasing the height of a mast placed on DWTC's top. Bernard Sunley and Son constructed DWTC. When finished DWTC had a plain gray concrete exterior with a patterned surface. Sheikh Rashid was not impressed when he saw it. He wanted DWTC to stand out. He ordered DWTC's exterior to be painted white. This presented a considerable challenge. Materials and methodologies had to be developed to repaint such a large building. Dubai World Trade Centre was formally opened by UK's Queen Elizabeth in 1979. By then DWTC was all white and no longer remote!
Dubai's World Trade Centre was designed as an integrated complex providing both Serviced Apartments and an Hotel. An Exhibition Tent was added later following Sharjah's success with their Expo housed in a purpose built large tent. DWTC needed to be self supporting given its then remote location. DWTC Apartments were the first of their kind in Dubai. These apartments catered for short and long stay tenants. Restaurants, sports facilities and a Club soon turned the DWTC Apartments into a popular self contained community.
DWTC Hilton Hotel opened in 1978 to support DWTC's business activity but also became popular with Dubai's Community. It was the first major hotel to offer membership to a well equipped Gymnasium and Fitness Club. As Dubai developed, this low rise hotel was occupying valuable land by early 2000s. A high rise extension to the World Trade Centre Apartments was planned. DWTC Hilton Hotel was demolished in June 2007.