The Nico International building is in the shape of a ship, complete with portholes and a bridge. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The quirky landmarks of Al Quoz - in pictures



Have you ever been given directions that include “turn right after you pass the King Tut sculpture”? If so, then you may have been driving through Al Quoz, where, among the warehouses and garages, it is not uncommon to come across something that’s out of the ordinary.

Industrial areas of large cities are traditionally the sectors that serve a very practical aspect, and offer less of an aesthetic. But Dubai’s Al Quoz challenges this stereotype with dynamic and quirky sites around just about every corner.

Photographer Chris Whiteoak of The National visited the area and found several businesses going the extra mile to stand out. Perhaps the best known is Nico International, a marine engineering company that is in the shape of a ship, complete with portholes and a bridge. The former location of Amusement Whitewater has a large-scale Egyptian sphinx and the famed King Tut head. Tulip Trading, which supplies safety products, has appropriately topped its building with orange traffic cones. Al Quoz Mall serves the local area with shopping and entertainment, and is adorned with turrets, resembling a fort. 

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