Clock Tower

The Deira Clock tower, also known as Dubai clock tower, is situated in the Deira locality of Dubai in a roundabout right across the Al Maktoum Bridge. Two prominent architects of the region were involved in the making of the tower; the concept sketch was created by Otto Bulard and the design was later developed by Ziki Homsi of Architecture Design Construction (ADC), who also built the tower. The idea behind the tower originated from a clock that was gifted to His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The design of the tower is a minimal structure, devoid of any form of ornamentation, made up of arches that act as buttresses converging to hold the four faces of the clock at the top. The design therefore allows for visual continuum for the traffic around the roundabout. The clock-tower was originally made from concrete which was mixed by hand at the time. This led to the deterioration of the structure due to the corrosion of the material which resulted in the major rebuilding of the tower in 1970 in the same material, but using newer technologies. The original clock itself also has been retrofitted with a High-tech GPS clock that is under the supervision and operation of Omega since 2010.

The clock tower stands beautifully to this day in an ever-changing city such as Dubai because it truly embodied the principles of modernism in its architectural and urban definitions. In the city level, the clock tower was a symbol of the change that Dubai was going through into becoming a global city as it embodied the ideas of the City Beautiful Movement introducing beautification and monumental grandeur in cities. Looking at the structure itself, one can identify its modernist essence from the simplicity of the design using minimal gestures to create a grand effect. The arches that hold the tower are representative of the regional modernism prevalent at the time.

Moreover, the tower accurately symbolizes the ideals of “form follows function” as its hollow shape in the bottom allows the visual continuum for the traffic around the roundabout while still holding the clock in a visible manner.

Another reason, this landmark hasn’t been changed over the years is because of the cultural significance and the story behind the clock that adorns the tower. The original clock was given as a gift to His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum by his son-in-law and it was suggested by the architects of the time to create a landmark focusing on this object. The location of the tower and its design created as space of gathering for people at the time that continues to this day due to the beautiful landscaping that was created beneath the tower. Other than a space of gathering, the tower became a landmark that indicated that a person has crossed the creek and entered Deira and it acts as such to this day. The clock tower connected major roads and other landmarks of the city such as the Al Maktoum Bridge, the Dubai Municipality, and the port. Hence, the tower became a classic part of Dubai’s urban fabric and a part of the larger collective memory. The clock tower also acted as a city marker for visitors coming from other cities as it was connected in the memories of people as the entrance to Dubai’s Deira town.