Dubai: The iconic Clock Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai is beginning to lose the features that gave it its name, as the old crown of the building is being removed to make way for a new architectural design that will relaunch it as a modern office destination under the name "AHS Tower," according to information obtained from AHS Properties.The company revealed a paradox related to the building's history: despite its widespread popularity as the Clock Tower or ‘Big Ben’, the clock was never actually installed. The old design simply allocated space for the clock face within the tower's crown.This crown is currently being removed to pave the way for a new exterior design, a move that will transform the building's distinctive character on Sheikh Zayed Road and give it a contemporary architectural identity after it remained empty for nearly 10 years before AHS Properties acquired it. The new exterior design is the work of renowned architect Shawn Killa, the designer of the Museum of the Future, in a new collaboration with AHS Properties to reshape one of the prominent buildings on Sheikh Zayed Road.The redesign of the building, particularly the removal of the crown, presents a significant engineering and logistical challenge, given the tower's location directly adjacent to a Metro station and on one of Dubai's most vital thoroughfares. The company has confirmed that the work is being carried out in accordance with safety and logistical planning standards that take into account traffic flow, the proximity of the Metro station, and the site's characteristics.AHS Tower marks the company's first foray into the commercial real estate sector, following its established presence in Dubai's ultra-luxury residential market. This expansion into the office sector represents a significant step forward. The project will feature Grade A offices, two full floors of facilities and services, winter gardens, indoor green spaces, health and wellness facilities, social hubs, and Sky Galleries on the upper levels.According to the company, the spaces are designed to seamlessly integrate work, meetings, relaxation, wellness, and social interaction, transforming the office from a traditional functional space into a comprehensive work environment. The tower enjoys a strategic location on Sheikh Zayed Road, near the Dubai International Financial Centre, the Museum of the Future, and Downtown Dubai, and is directly adjacent to a Metro station. AHS Properties had previously announced the sale of all units in its first office project, while Bloomberg reports indicate that the company acquired the tower in 2024 for approximately $120 million (Dh441 million), and that sales of commercial units exceeded $700 million (Dh2.57 billion). The ongoing transformation marks a new chapter for the building, which had remained empty for years; from a form associated in the minds of Dubai residents with the ‘Clock Tower’ or ‘Big Ben’ tower, even though the clock itself was never installed, to a new office tower with a distinct identity on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Dubai: The UAE Aid Agency has concluded its participation as an official partner in the 22nd edition of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD 2026), marking the occasion by organising a roundtable on foreign aid and launching the "Made for Good” Charter in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.Attended by a number of chief executives, directors, senior officials, and representatives of UAE humanitarian and development institutions, the roundtable discussed the importance of strengthening coordination and integration among UAE entities, and aligning efforts and programs with national priorities.Participants also addressed the development of a joint operating model to raise the efficiency of foreign aid and maximise its sustainable humanitarian and developmental impact, in addition to affirming compliance with regulatory frameworks and international foreign aid reporting requirements, coordination and data-sharing mechanisms, and the unification of media messaging and consistency of the UAE’s institutional identity in regional and international forums.Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, affirmed the Agency’s continued commitment to reinforcing a participatory approach that brings together the various UAE entities working in foreign aid within a more integrated and effective national system for implementing humanitarian programs, development projects, and charitable work.Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency. Picture credit: WAMHe noted the importance of directing foreign aid toward the actual needs of beneficiary countries and communities, in line with global priorities for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.Al Ameri said: "The Agency’s participation as an official partner in DIHAD was marked by numerous activities and events over three days, during which visitors and international institutions became acquainted with the Agency’s pavilion and the valuable information it offers on the various forms of foreign aid extended from the UAE to different parts of the world. Important bilateral meetings were also held, along with roundtables to discuss the key challenges facing humanitarian aid, in addition to the signing of two cooperation agreements - with the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the UAE Space Agency - and the launch of the ‘Made for Good’ Charter in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, aimed at strengthening the contribution of national entities and companies to foreign aid programs and projects.”He further explained that the "Made for Good” Charter was signed by the Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Works, the Sakr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Charity and Humanitarian Foundation, the Sharjah Charity Association, the International Humanitarian Organisation, Dubai Humanitarian, and Dar Al Ber Society, as part of the signatories’ commitment to enhancing cooperation and leveraging national capabilities, products, and services, in a manner that contributes to achieving sustainable economic, humanitarian, and developmental impact.The UAE Aid Agency’s pavilion received a large number of visits from officials of international organisations and humanitarian and development workers, who learned about the UAE’s inspiring experience in foreign aid and its impact on improving living conditions and quality of life for beneficiaries, as well as achieving tangible, sustainable impact through humanitarian, development, and charitable projects.