Dubai World Trade Centre

World Trade Centre is one of the busiest and most happening locations in Dubai. Situated parallel to the city’s main artery – Sheikh Zayed Road – the community lies in the heart of the central business and financial district where other similar developments such as Downtown Dubai, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Business Bay area exist. Hosting several fairs, exhibitions, concerts and global conventions, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) plays a fundamental role in the expansion of international trade in the Middle East.

Originally known as Sheikh Rashid Tower, DWTC was built in 1979 and was known as the tallest building at the time at 149 metres and 39 floors above ground. It had originally started as just one building while after gradual progress and numerous additions, the complex is now stretched across an area of 1.3 million sq. ft. It houses 21 exhibition halls, 40 meeting rooms over 3 floors and a few commercial towers and hotels outside the complex.

Are you still thinking what is Dubai World Trade Centre? Generating significant revenue for the city’s economy as well as creating countless jobs, DWTC has established its presence as a cosmopolitan commercial destination. In this area guide, we’ll take a detailed look at each aspect of this skyscraper and the entire development.

• Constructed in 1979, WTC was previously known as Sheikh Rashid Tower
• Was the tallest tower in Dubai at 149 metres
• Located amidst iconic landmarks of the city
• Next to Dubai’s highway – Sheikh Zayed Road (E11)
• Dubai Metro’s Red Line runs along with the World Trade Centre
• The focal point for international trades and overseas businesses
• Hosts many events, exhibitions, concerts and trade shows

The mixed-use development of Dubai World Trade Centre efficiently integrates commercial projects, residential properties, retail spaces and administrative centres. The WTC complex consists of the 14-storey Convention Tower located next to the large Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Sheikh Rashid Tower and the Novotel Hotel and Ibis Hotel are located around the exhibition grounds. The residential side is limited to Jumeirah Living – World Trade Centre Residence. The World Trade Centre Metro Station also provides easy access to the outdoor event venue called The Plaza and Exhibition Gate.

Apart from these buildings, the complex also includes various exhibition halls such as Sheikh Rashid Hall, Sheikh Saeed Halls, Sheikh Maktoum Hall and the Trade Centre Arena.

Formerly known as Sheikh Rashid Tower, Trade Centre Tower is a 39-floor skyscraper and one of the first landmarks on the Sheikh Zayed Road. Deemed as the pioneering symbol of international trade, the 149-metre tall skyscraper has also been featured on the currency note of AED 100. It is primarily a commercial building with many office spaces. Moreover, the Trade Centre Tower had once enjoyed the distinction of being the tallest building in the Middle East until the emergence of Burj Al Arab about 20 years later, while the title of the tallest building now resides with Burj Khalifa.

The complex of Jumeirah Living – World Trade Centre Residence comprises two towers. It features 377 luxurious residences that include many serviced apartments, offering 1, 2, 3 and 4-bed units. They also offer the more spacious 1, 2, and 4-bed duplexes, as well as the 3-bed panoramic duplexes. Also, the complex facilities include a fitness centre, a rooftop pool and an in-house dining area.

Consisting of a king-size bed, the 1-bedroom serviced flat has a floor area of 900 sq. ft. Its amenities include a modern ensuite bathroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, a widescreen LCD television, DVD player, free Wi-Fi and complimentary access to a private beach and Wild Wadi Waterpark. Further amenities such as newspapers, hairdryers, ironing facilities and a minibar are available on request.

Presenting extra amenities, the 1-bed duplex and 2-bed residences are built over an area of 1,160 sq. ft. to 2,180 sq. ft. Whereas, the 3-bed panoramic duplex is built over an area that ranges between 2,460 sq. ft. and 2,730 sq. ft. The largest of them all, 4-bed duplexes offer a space of 3,130 sq. ft. The price of the rental duplexes in Dubai World Trade Centre starts from AED 99k and goes up to AED 270k per year. The buying demand for duplexes in WTC, Dubai lies between AED 1.2M and AED 6.5M.

If you are searching for WTC floor plans, check out our various 2D and 3D layouts available for each building in Dubai World Trade Centre.

Whether you are looking for a short-term staycation or long-term accommodation, the apartments at Dubai World Trade Centre offer a luxurious living experience. The three separate apartment blocks will perfectly suit your residential needs. It features different units that are completely furnished and serviced. The 4-star Novotel Hotel offers 412 suites and amenities such as a beauty salon, gym, an outdoor swimming pool, free valet parking and a selection of restaurants and bars.

The 2-star Ibis Hotel offers over 200 non-smoking rooms with facilities such as a minibar, rollaway beds, cable/satellite television, babysitting services and a lot more.

DWTC is served by three major roads: Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), 2nd Zabeel Street (D73) and Happiness Street (D86).

There are multiple parking spaces in Dubai World Trade Centre. It has many dedicated parking areas located along Happiness Street (Al Sa’ada Street) and around its complex. Strategically divided, the facilities include free parking, paid parking and valet parking areas as well as electric car charging units.

As for public transportation in Dubai World Trade Centre, being next to the Red Line of Dubai Metro is a huge advantage for visitors and residents. Commuters who want to use public transport can easily access the metro station located alongside WTC.

Those who would like to take the bus can get to the bus stations located near Novotel Hotel and Jumeirah Living – World Trade Centre Residence.

Grocery and home utility shopping can be done at Fair Trade Supermarket & Department Store neat the ibis World Trade Centre Dubai Hotel. Right opposite WTC you will find a ZOOM convenience store.

Carrefour Market, situated across Sheikh Zayed Road in Duja Tower is one of the supermarkets near World Trade Centre that provides a wider and more varied selection of fresh produce and products at promotional prices.

A number of churches near Dubai World Trade Centre are present in Oud Metha, just about 7.7 kilometres away. One can reach that area by taking a 10-minute drive using the Sheikh Zayed Road route and visit St. Mary’s Catholic Church, The Dubai City Church and St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral Dubai. There are many other churches in Dubai to serve the different denominations of Christianity.

Temples near World Trade Centre include Mahamevnawa Buddhist Temple in Al Wasl. Hindu temples include Shiva Temple, Shree Krishna Haveli and ShrinathJi Temple. All of which are located in Bur Dubai, a short 10-minute drive away from DWTC.

Presently, there is no mosque in World Trade Centre but one can visit Al Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Masjid reachable in a 7-minute drive. A couple of mosques are also present in the area across Sheikh Zayed Road.

Options for preschoolers include Smart Childrens Nursery, Roots and Wings Nursery, and StepUp Nursery in the Al Jafiliya community, accessible with a 7-minute drive. Hummingbird Nursery DIFC, its extension Hummingbird Pre-school DIFC, Safari Kid Sheikh Zayed Road Nursery and Grassland Daycare & Nursery are some of the other facilities for preschoolers.

For elementary education, there are a few schools near World Trade Centre. Parents can send their children to GEMS Wellington Primary School, Salma Al Ansaria School, Al Wasl Girls School and Al Maktoum Primary School for Boys. These options are located in the neighbouring area Al Satwa and reachable in under 10 minutes.

Offering a variety of courses, Dubai College of Tourism near the ibis One Central Hotel provides a broad knowledge of the fast-evolving tourism industry. The courses tap different areas such as tourism, events, hospitality, retail and culinary arts.

In the same vein, there are a few institutes that offer business studies and/or training courses, such as Philippine Business School, Champion Traders Academy and Blue Ocean Academy.

There is no shortage of educational institutes near Dubai World Trade Centre. Whether you want to learn different languages such as Mandarin or Arabic or want to prepare for admission tests such as Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), World Trade Centre and its neighbouring areas have you covered.

You can find the Chinese Language Institute in The H Hotel, opposite World Trade Centre. The Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is located on the 4th floor of Sheikh Rashid Tower.

Residents can buy prescriptions from Life Pharmacy located within the exhibition complex.

In case of any medical emergency, it won’t take long for residents to access any of the several clinics and hospitals near the World Trade Centre, which are dotted along Sheikh Zayed Road. These include Emirates Hospital Clinics, Gulf Eye Centre, Zain Specialized Clinic and GMCClinics.

The closest options include the hospitals in Dubai Healthcare City. Here you will find Mediclinic City Hospital, Emirates Specialty Hospital, American Hospital Dubai and Latifa Hospital. All these options can be reached in under 10 minutes.

When you head down Sheikh Zayed Road from World Trade Centre, just after skipping Emirates Towers, you will reach the leading financial hub called DIFC. Further down the road, you will come across other important developments of Dubai such as Downtown Dubai and Business Bay.

Popular for its mixed neighbourhood with a melting pot of cultures, the community of Al Satwa faces the World Trade Centre development across Sheikh Zayed Road.

As expected, most of the shopping complexes in World Trade Centre are meant for business-to-business trades but some deal in consumer goods too.

The epicentre of exclusive brands, The Dubai Mall offers the finest shopping experience to its visitors. Spanning across 502,000 sq. m. and divided into four levels, this mall is situated in the heart of Downtown Dubai, reachable within 10 minutes by car from World Trade Centre.

Another nearby mall is the compact shopping complex, Al Ghazal Mall that is situated in Al Badaa just 10 minutes away.

The neighbouring areas are packed with an endless choice of eateries. Ranging from affordable to upscale dining options, the restaurants in World Trade Centre offer a variety of cuisines.

Outside the convention gates near the metro, you will find a few casual dining restaurants. Burgerfuel in Dubai World Trade Centre offers some mouth-watering gourmet burgers. You can visit Pizza Express for traditional hand-tossed pizzas or Sushi Counter for Japanese treats. Circle Cafe offers an international menu, its daily specials are quite popular while Caffe Nero can be visited for sweet treats.

Located on the 30th floor of The World Trade Centre Residences, The Club Lounge welcomes residents and guests for an elegant retreat. Diners can choose from an appetizing selection of à la carte offerings featured on their menu.

There are many hotels near WTC and along Sheikh Zayed Road. The area is known for its proximity to some of the best restaurants and nightlife options in Dubai. If you fancy authentic Asian food, you can visit Wagamama in the Crowne Plaza Hotel or Play Restaurant and Lounge in the H Hotel. For some scrumptious Lebanese delicacies, Yeldizlar in the Fairmont Dubai and Al Nafoorah in Jumeirah Emirates Towers will fulfil your cravings.

One of the best-known destinations in the area is McGettigan’s Irish Pub, it is a chill hangout spot popular for both its food and bar menu. Some coffee shops in Dubai are close by including Miss Lily’s in the Sheraton Grand Hotel, the Level 43 Sky Lounge in the Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road and the Alta Badia Bar in the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel.

People living in World Trade Center are lucky because the magnificent coastline – for which Dubai is well-known for – is just mere kilometres away. These lavish beachfront destinations include Jumeirah Beach, La Mer Beach and the Public beach. Residents can have a great outdoor time in one of these beaches near DWTC.

Travellers looking for the best spot for a fun night and an upscale clubbing environment can visit the Swarovski-crystals-studded Cavalli Club Restaurant and Lounge at Fairmont Dubai, right opposite Dubai World Trade Centre.

Those who would like to delve into the rich history of the United Arab Emirates can visit the Etihad Museum. Displaying unique architecture, this magnificent landmark is located on Jumeirah Street and is accessible in 15 minutes through a straight drive along Al Diyafah Street.

People interested in emerging science and futuristic concepts have much to anticipate with the emergence of the Museum of The Future. Being located right next to the Emirates Towers complex, the 342,292 sq. ft. architectural wonder features a unique inscription of Arabic calligraphy on its exterior.

Featuring a stunning pair of skyscrapers, the 56-storey Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel and the 54-floor Emirates Office Tower – the building complex of Emirates Towers is an unmistakable landmark near DWTC that graces Sheikh Zayed Road.

Standing at a record-breaking height of 828m, Burj Khalifa is a true masterpiece located not very far from WTC. Therefore, residents can enjoy its marvellous views right from the comfort of their residences in the World Trade Centre.

A perfect place for a family outing, the unique thematic park called Dubai Garden Glow is located just where Sheikh Zayed Road curves off from the Trade Centre Roundabout. It is a part of the larger Zabeel Park, which is home to another popular attraction called the Dubai Frame.

Apart from the aforementioned attractions, recreational facilities in Zabeel Park keep the weekends busy. For instance, it has an amphitheatre that hosts various events, has a few covered barbeque areas, an ice rink, jogging tracks, a mini golf course, a mini cricket-pitch and a skateboard park. There is also an adventure playground for children and a lake where boat rides are offered.

During the summer season, the complex includes a 25,000 sq. m. large air-conditioned space that transforms into an indoor sports arena called Dubai Sports World. Besides providing an indoor environment, it hosts numerous sporting events and activities for children, individuals, groups and clubs.

World Trade Centre also boasts the highest outdoor climbing wall in the emirate called The Wall Dubai at Dorell Sports. It extends over a height of 18 metres and is suitable for both children and adults.

People looking for fitness-focused facilities near World Trade Centre have numerous choices such as 1 Beat Gym, Talise Fitness at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Crowne Fitness Studio, Fit Inc. and Fitness Avenue.

World Trade Centre is close to several beauty salons such as Aurora Beauty Centre and Spa, Donna Ricci Salon, NStyle Beauty Lounge and Sa Scène Hair Couture.

Catering to the styling needs of both ladies and gents, Caractère by Dani Salons is an upscale hair and beauty salon based in Novotel Hotel.

Dubai World Trade Center hosts many events annually. A few notable ones include GITEX Technology Week, Beautyworld, Gulfood and Arab Health. There are many other niche events held in WTC throughout the year. In Ramadan WTC hosts a Ramadan market and also the Ramadan exclusive, The Majlis which offers an iftar buffet and suhoor menu.

Since it is a major commercial development, WTC is favoured by those who don’t mind living in a bustling area. The area tends to get crowded whenever there is an event in the area and the limited family-focused areas are a couple of factors families may think about before moving to World Trade Center.

World Trade Centre is one of the busiest locations in Dubai, situated parallel to the main highway along Sheikh Zayed Road.

It was formerly known as Sheikh Rashid Tower.

Residents can use Dubai Metro and taxi for an easy commute. You can also find trains that run every few minutes, from 5 am to 11 pm using a Nol Card.

The Government of Dubai.

• Construction began: 1974
• Completed: 1979

Al Fahidi Fort is the oldest existing building in Dubai. Whereas, if you talk about the first tallest building on Sheikh Zayed Road, it is the WTC complex.

• Lies parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road
• Towards the west of Dubai Creek
• Situated southwest of Bur Dubai
• Neighbours the vast residential community of Za’abeel
• About 10.4 kilometres (12 minutes) away from Dubai International Airport