Dubai’s first skyscraper and business centre was designed by John R Harris. It was renamed after HH Sheikh Rashid bi Saeed Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai. The 39 storey Sheikh Rashid Tower, a bold mix of Islamic and modernist architecture is a purpose-built complex for events and exhibitions. The tower was formally inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1979 and was the tallest building in the Arab world until the completion of the Burj Al Arab 20 years later.
