Rolex Tower Sheikh Zayed Road

Among the unique buildings dotted along the vibrant stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road stands the mixed-use Rolex Tower. It is essentially located in the city’s leading business district called the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Apart from its stunning height of 770 ft., this award-winning skyscraper is widely recognised for its one-of-a-kind contemporary architecture. It has been designed by a globally influential engineering and urban planning firm known as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM).

The 59-storey tall structure has bagged multiple awards. These include Best Tall Building Middle East & Africa 2011 Award of Excellence (CTBUH Awards 2011), Project of the Year Middle East Architect Magazine (2011) and Regional Design Award: Architecture AIA – Middle East Chapter (2014).

The architecture features a patterned turquoise glass cladding which is opaque at the bottom while turning transparent as it extends to the tip. The pinnacle of Rolex Tower’s refined columnar shape is almost translucent and it glows after dusk like a lantern. Evoking tasteful elegance and minimalism, the skyscraper stands in sharp contrast against the stereotypical opulence, which is the characteristic of most of the city’s tall buildings.

The SOM-designed Rolex Tower is a branded project developed by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the real estate arm of the Middle East’s leading luxury watch retailer. The construction for this masterpiece project began first in 2007, while it reached its completion in 2010. There are 31 floors of office spaces along with 25 floors of residential spaces. Additionally, two residential 3-bed penthouses with sky terraces are located at the tip of the building, whereas a nine-storey parking facility and entrance plaza are attached at the rear side of Rolex Tower.

Dubai International Financial Centre or DIFC is a well-developed neighbourhood with a plethora of facilities. From gourmet restaurants and internationally acclaimed tourist destinations to commercial facilities and transportation, DIFC offers all of it. The area covers 110 hectares and has several commercial and residential buildings that offer properties for rent and sale.

• Type of building: Mixed-use
• Location: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
• Developer: Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons
• Date of completion: 2010
• Number of floors: 59
• Unit type: 2-bed and 3-bed, penthouses, offices
• Amenities: gym, swimming pool, parking, concierge and more

Parking in Rolex Tower SKR is not a hassle as the building has a separate 9-storey car parking building behind the tower. The parking building also has 4 basement floors, offering a total of 609 parking spaces.

There are 10 high-speed elevators in Rolex Tower, including residential elevators with separate access.

The 24-hour security in Rolex Tower, which includes CCTV coverage and on-site guards, is spread throughout the building and its amenities. The efficient maintenance team provides fast services free of charge. The central cooling is supplied via the district cooling system. Among the state-of-the-art facilities, residents enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi access and IPTV (internet protocol television) that offer uninterrupted online streaming.

Residents, office tenants and guests have free access to the gym in Rolex Tower. This on-site fitness centre features state-of-the-art equipment. Those who want customised fitness training can seek services from the skilled personal trainer available at the gym.

Apart from the gym, the lifestyle amenities in Rolex Tower consists of a rooftop lap pool and a luxury health club with Jacuzzi.

The tower has two grand lobbies on the ground floor. One leads to the residential apartments, while the other provides access to the commercial section. The commercial lobby features high ceilings with a minimalistic interior design. It also boasts a bespoke stainless-steel art piece called Soundwave that James Clar has designed. The residential lobby is meant for residents and guests and features a geometric art installation that immediately greets anyone who enters through the front gate.

The skyscraper has 25 floors of dedicated residential spaces. There are two types of apartments in Rolex Tower; two-bed and three-bedroom apartments. The residential properties also include two exclusive penthouses that provide access to sky terraces. The two and three-bed apartments come with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer spectacular panoramic views.

Apart from residential apartments, the building also has offices and shops. Investors can find several offices for sale in Rolex Tower Dubai, while rental options are also available.

The covered area of 2-bedroom rental apartments in Rolex Tower Dubai ranges from 1,410 sq. ft. to 1,630 sq. ft. These units include two spacious bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms, a bright living/dining room, a powder room, a laundry room and a fully-equipped high-end kitchen. It also features ample storage space and offers reserved parking spaces.

The size of 3-bedroom apartments for rent in Rolex Tower Dubai lies between 1,550 sq. ft. and 1,780 sq. ft. Apart from the three bedrooms, they include a maid, laundry area, storeroom, powder room, three bathrooms, a luxury kitchen, a living room and a large dining space. Rolex Tower three-beds also comes with allocated parking spaces.

As mentioned earlier, there are only two penthouses in Rolex Tower Sheikh Zayed Road, which are prestigious properties located at the topmost levels. These exclusive residences have three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a guest’s toilet. The penthouses also include two rooms for the house help. The master bedroom offers complete privacy as it is positioned away from the two general bedrooms and house help’s quarters. Additionally, the floor plan features a 140 sq. m. large terrace that offers sweeping views of the buzzing neighbourhood.

Whether you are a resident or an employee working at one of the rental offices in Rolex Tower, you can utilise Dubai Metro or the public buses to commute to and from different areas of the city.

Damac Park Tower bus stop is the nearest bus stop and it takes only a 5-minute drive to reach the spot. Reachable within 8 to 9 minutes, Wasl Terminus bus stop and the Ghaya Residence bus stop are also located close.

The closes metro station that one can find near Rolex Tower DIFC is Financial Centre Metro Station that is right next to the building. At a 3-minute distance, there is Emirates Tower Metro Station.

Some of the nearest casual dining restaurants around Rolex Tower DIFC include:

• Burrito Beyond Borders
• The Bowl One Restaurant
• CHIN CHIN DIFC
• Original Wings and Rings

Whether you crave authentic Mexican dishes or want to have hot chicken wings at one of the best chicken wings places in Dubai, all of it is accessible within minutes of drive from Rolex Tower DIFC. Burrito Beyond Borders, for instance, is a classy Mexican restaurant that serves a list of delicious Arabic, South Asian and Arabic wraps. One can visit Chin Chin DIFC restaurant for Chinese foods, while Original Wings and Rings is the best place for juicy chicken wings.

Fine-dining restaurants near Rolex Tower:

• Marea Restaurant
• Tresind

There are a few fine-dining eateries in DIFC that residents and office workers can visit for a high-end dining experience. Those who are fans of Italian cuisine can visit Marea Restaurant, located at a 5 minutes distance. The place has a diversified menu with lunch and dinner specialities. Located at 12 minutes, Tresind is also a popular Indian fine-dining restaurant that offers a premium dining experience.

Supermarkets that are located close to Rolex Tower DIFC include:

• Prime Towers Supermarket
• Spinneys
• Al Maya Supermarket

There are plenty of supermarkets around Rolex Tower Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai that offer everything from regular household supplies to fresh groceries. The closest retail spots include Prime Towers Supermarket and Al Maya Supermarket at a 2 minutes drive. An outlet of Spinneys is also located close at an 8 minutes drive. This is one of the most reliable grocery stores in the area as there is a chain of Spinneys outlets in Dubai that offer quality products to different communities.

Some other popular buildings around Rolex Tower Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai include:

• Emirates Financial Tower
• Index Tower
• Jumeirah Tower Building
• Liberty House Building

There are several high-end residential and commercial buildings on Sheikh Zayed Road near Rolex Tower. Some of the prominent ones located within 10 minutes walk include Index Tower, Jumeirah Tower Building, Liberty House Building and Emirates Financial Tower.

Major landmarks near Rolex Tower Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai:

• Burj Khalifa
• The Dubai Mall
• The Dubai Fountain
• Green Planet Dubai

Rolex Tower is strategically positioned to receive splendid views of the iconic Burj Khalifa from the west. Located at a distance of 8 minutes, the tallest building structure houses an observation deck that offers a beautiful view of the Dubai skyline. There are several other things to do at Burj.

Moreover, the Dubai Mall is also located close to the Burj Khalifa tower at only 6 minutes from the Rolex Tower SZR. Residents can explore some of the top international brands at the mall, along with a list of entertainment facilities. After the shopping spree, residents can go to the Dubai Fountain, 14 minutes from the building. The musical fountain displays an excellent show of water jets dancing in synch with the colourful lights.

A popular family attraction, The Green Planet by Meraas is an expansive indoor rainforest accessible after a 7-minute drive.

Considering that Rolex Tower SZR only offers 2-bed and 3-bed layouts as residential options, some tenants may not find these a fitting choice. Moreover, the central location of the building also may cause excessive traffic during rush hours.