AHS Tower: From Landmark to $600M

AHS Properties has pulled off one of the more eye-catching commercial revivals on Sheikh Zayed Road, turning Dubai’s long quiet “Big Ben” tower into a sell out style success story. Reintroduced as AHS Tower, the project has reportedly delivered around $600 million in sales, with close to 95 percent of the available units already sold. It is a strong signal that demand for Grade A office ownership, not just leasing, is very real in commercial real estate when the location and the product are right.

A Landmark That Stayed Unfinished for Years

For years, the tower stood as one of those Dubai stories that felt unfinished. You would pass it on Sheikh Zayed Road and recognise the outline straight away, a clock tower shaped structure that earned its nickname simply because the silhouette stuck in people’s minds. It was prominent, it was visible, and yet it stayed quiet. In a city that moves fast, an unfinished landmark can feel oddly out of place, which is exactly why its return is getting attention now.

Why The Location Still Matters

The building sits on one of Dubai’s most valuable commercial corridors, in clear view of major landmarks such as DIFC, the Museum of the Future, and the Burj Khalifa. For Abbas Sajwani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AHS Properties, the appeal was not only the address, it was the combination of location and unrealised potential. AHS did not just see a stalled structure. It saw something rare, a chance to complete a building that already had a presence in the skyline and give it a purpose that matches where Dubai’s office market is heading.

The Strategic Shift in 2025

When AHS acquired the property in July 2024, the initial plan was straightforward. Finish the structure and lease it out as premium office space. At the time, commercial buildings along Sheikh Zayed Road were largely restricted to leasehold ownership, which made rental income the most practical option. Leasing was not a compromise, it was simply the way the corridor worked. High demand for prime offices existed, but the ownership model was still limited.

That strategy shifted after new freehold regulations were introduced in early 2025, allowing strata sales on Sheikh Zayed Road. Sajwani reassessed the opportunity and chose to sell office units instead. It was a timely pivot, and based on the numbers shared, it landed exactly when the market was ready for it. Sajwani described the response as “tremendous,” noting that nearly 95 percent of the available inventory has already been sold. In his view, the performance is a clear marker of Dubai’s growing appetite for premium commercial real estate, particularly assets that combine location, design quality, and hospitality driven amenities.

Design Reset and Buyer Value

The product itself is being positioned as more than a standard office tower. AHS Tower is designed by Killa Design, with interiors by AHS Atelier. Killa Design is known internationally and is closely associated in Dubai with the Museum of the Future, which has made the firm’s name instantly recognisable to anyone who follows the city’s architecture. With that team reworking the concept, the building is expected to receive a new façade and interiors that align with current expectations around luxury, sustainability, and functionality. The goal is not just to update the look, it is to reset the experience and create something that feels contemporary from the moment you step inside.

At full height, AHS Tower is planned as a 328 metre building rising 69 storeys. Inside, it will offer premium office floors with flexible layouts, alongside 17 express elevators and more than 500 parking spaces. That kind of infrastructure matters in practice because convenience is part of the value proposition for executive grade workplaces. A smooth arrival, quick lifts, and sensible parking are not glamour features, but they shape how the building works day to day.

Amenities as the New Office Standard

Where the tower is really trying to separate itself is in how it treats amenities. Two dedicated amenity levels are planned to house wellness and lifestyle facilities including fitness areas, spas, lounges, and business focused shared spaces. That direction reflects a wider shift in office expectations. Companies and business owners are no longer only measuring value by square footage. They are looking at how the space supports productivity, staff retention, and the overall feel of the working day. Put simply, the office has to earn its place again, and buildings that create a better experience have an advantage.

This philosophy becomes more tangible when you look at what is planned throughout the tower. There is set to be a hospitality lounge at ground level, giving the arrival a more hotel like tone than a typical corporate lobby. A private members’ club is planned for the mezzanine floor, which speaks to the kind of clientele the building is aiming for, decision makers who value privacy, service, and an environment that feels elevated without needing to be loud about it. Higher up, a dedicated fitness club is planned for level 62, with a wellness centre on level 63. It is a clear signal that the tower is treating wellbeing as part of the office routine rather than an extra you might use once in a while.

At rooftop level, plans include a sky gallery and a winter garden with panoramic views across the city. In practical terms, those spaces help a commercial building feel like a destination, not just a place people commute to. For owners and occupiers, that kind of environment can be used for hosting, meetings, events, and moments that benefit from a setting that feels memorable. It is the sort of detail that makes a premium office product feel complete.

AHS Properties itself is still relatively young, founded around four years ago, and has built its reputation primarily in the high end residential segment. Its buyer base has typically been ultra wealthy clients drawn to Dubai’s lifestyle, global connectivity, and tax environment. Moving into prime commercial development might sound like a departure at first, but the company is framing it as a natural extension of the same idea, focusing on scarcity driven assets in exceptional locations. In other words, it is still about prime positioning and a premium experience, just in a different asset class.

For Sajwani, who is also a board member of Damac Group founded by his father Hussain Sajwani, AHS Tower represents what thoughtful redevelopment can do for Dubai’s built environment. Sheikh Zayed Road is not a corridor where you can easily start from scratch. Land is limited, opportunities are rare, and most of the best plots are already taken. In that context, breathing new life into an unfinished landmark can be faster and more effective than waiting for a perfect blank canvas. It also carries a certain symbolism, finishing what was left incomplete and turning it into something useful and modern.

What the Sell Out Signal Means for Dubai’s Office Market

The sales performance attached to the relaunch suggests the bet has worked, in line with Dubai real estate trends that are keeping demand for prime assets strong. Around $600 million in sales and roughly 95 percent sold is not a small headline, especially in a market where commercial buyers have traditionally been more cautious than residential buyers. It points to a widening comfort with office ownership, particularly when the building offers a strong address, a recognisable design story, and amenities that feel aligned with the way people want to work now.

Transforming with Purpose

In the end, that is what makes this transformation notable. It is not only about bringing back a tower that had become part of Dubai’s roadside memory. It is about showing what happens when a legacy structure is reimagined with clear intent, strong design partners, and a strategy that adapts to regulation changes at the right moment. AHS Tower is being positioned as a next generation Grade A commercial destination, and based on the reported demand so far, the market seems ready for exactly that.