Elements of Culture

Iconic Dubai
Deira Clock Tower
The Deira Clock Tower Roundabout is an
iconic part of the growth of Dubai, original-
ly referred to as the Dubai Clock Tower
which is situated at the intersection of
Umm Hurrair Road and Al Maktoum
Road, the rst land crossing constructed
between Deira and Bur Dubai.
History
Constructed with Beach Sand
The Clock Tower was designed by Engi-
neer Edgar Bublik and constructed in
1964. In 1972 the monument started to
crack and corrode as a result of the original
construction material used, which was
unwashed beach sand. In those days this
was common place. The beach sand con-
tains salt and allows water to nd its way
through the concrete resulting in some-
thing known as Concrete Cancer eventu-
ally making any steel structure corrode.
When this was discovered, the Clock
Tower structure was refurbished and deteri-
orated materials removed.
Issue 27
Clock Tower Today
Deira Clock Tower, 1970s
Symbolic Gift
The Clock tower was erected as a symbol of Dubai. Its location was chosen
because the intersection was an important access point into Dubai and the rst
signicant structure seen by travelers and traders arriving overland. The main
feature of the Clock Tower is obviously the Clock. This clock was given to the
late Sheikh Rashid as a gift from Sheikh Ahmed of Qatar in the 1960s. Unbe-
lievably, the clock faces have only been replaced once in its signicant history,
in November 2008. The face and hands were replaced by Omega models,
which incorporate GPS devices for accuracy, and removes the need to manually
change the hands on the clock. The Deira Clock Tower is still a major thorough-
fare and can be reached by Dubai Metro at the Al-Rigga Station on the red line.
The area around Deira clock tower is still a very important commercial district
which includes the ofces of major International Airlines operating in the UAE.
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Deira Clock Tower 1965