10 Best Architecture and Design Firms in United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a fascinating confluence of tradition and innovation. Originally a desert trading hub, the UAE has evolved into a ground for experimentation and architectural innovation. Home to impressive structures such as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, the country has become a pole of attraction for architects worldwide. Zaha Hadid and Norman Foster for instance, have left indelible marks on the region, such as the Opus building and the Zayed National Museum. Modern UAE architecture seamlessly incorporates cutting-edge technology with cultural heritage, as seen in the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s floating dome and the carbon-neutral city of Masdar. Today the country stands at forefront of sustainable and adaptive design, while at the same time, testing the limits of architectural expression and construction.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in United Arab Emirates based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

• The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2024)
• The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2024)
• The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2024)
• The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2024)
• The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2024)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of United Arab Emirates architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 10 best architecture firms in United Arab Emirates:

10. Zomorrodi & Associates

© Zomorrodi & Associates

Zomorrodi & Associates is a global, multi-disciplinary architectural and design consultancy with offices in Dubai and Tehran. Headed by its founder Shahrooz Zomorrodi, the studio has a varied portfolio and primarily serves the residential, commercial, retail and hospitality sectors. The studio’s projects are regularly featured in leading design publications. Beyond featuring regularly in the regional and international media, the practice has also bagged an impressive number of awards for its architectural and interior projects.

Some of Zomorrodi & Associates’ most prominent projects include:

• Cadence, Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Tr88House, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Cave House, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Kerman Motor Building, Tehran, Iran

The following statistics helped Zomorrodi & Associates achieve 10th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

9. LAMI Architects

© LAMI Architects

LAMI Architects is a Dubai-based Architectural Boutique Design Studio, providing comprehensive services in architecture, interior architecture and urban design. With an outstanding diverse projects portfolio. What sets us apart is our passion and love to create the ultimate spatial experiences combined with a contemporary architectural design language.

Founded by Wisam Al Lami, a passionate architect with a distinctive design portfolio. His works reflect a unique placement of masses and materials to create a relationship with light, shade and shadow. Embedding nature, creating in-out experiences are the main elements that he uses in his designs.

Some of LAMI Architects’ most prominent projects include:

• RA Mansion, Puerto Rico

The following statistics helped LAMI Architects achieve 9th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

8. Alina Sulina Design studio

© Sulina Design

Alina Sulina Design studio is a team of like-minded individuals striving to make design a way of life. Our principles always revolve around a minimalist approach, where aesthetics do not compromise functionality, and clean forms help focus on what truly matters.

Some of Alina Sulina Design studio’s most prominent projects include:

• Dune house, Manchester, United Kingdom
• Vienna, Vienna, Austria

The following statistics helped Alina Sulina Design studio achieve 8th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

7. MEAN* Middle East Architecture Network

© MEAN* Middle East Architecture Network

MEAN* (Middle East Architecture Network) is an Innovative Architecture Practice that works at the nexus of design and emergent technologies. MEAN* utilizes cutting edge computational design processes and digital fabrication tools to leverage the quality of architectural solutions. Computer Programming, Robotics, 3D Printing, AR, VR and CNC manufacturing are some of the technologies we use to leverage our work.

MEAN’s mission is to amalgamate computation, material research, and digital fabrication, to provide interdisciplinary solutions that respond to current economic, environmental and social developments.

Some of MEAN* Middle East Architecture Network’s most prominent projects include:

• Deciduous – 3D Printed Pavilion, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Sabeel 2020 Water Fountain
• Meandering Arcades – Barjeel Art Foundation Museum 

The following statistics helped MEAN* Middle East Architecture Network achieve 7th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

6. ibda design

© ibda design

ibda design is a design-driven architecture studio with a focus towards a project’s specific context, and a close attention to detail. The two partners, Wael Al Awar (Lebanon) and Kenichi Teramoto (Japan), each own unique biographical stories that first led them away from their home countries, then later to collaborate in Dubai. Thus, they share a mutual ability to observe a city up-close and intimately, yet also from afar, with the attentive eye of an “outsider.”

With no first-language shared between them, the two are required to communicate through architecture, using design as a language. Upon merging their individual sensibilities of form and natural landscape, they reach an architectural consensus amongst themselves and the context.

Some of ibda design’s most prominent projects include:

• Hai d3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Al Warqa’a Mosque, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Office Tower Dubai
• Beirut Museum of Art (BeMA)
• Hayy: Creative Hub, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The following statistics helped ibda design achieve 6th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

5. desert INK

© desert INK

‘Creating exciting places which enhance lives.’ desert INK is pioneering new forms of landscape architecture for the Middle East and aims to define a sustainable and context-driven blueprint for landscapes in the region.

Some of desert INK’s most prominent projects include:

• The Block, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• desert INK Interior, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Private Villa, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Private Villa, Jumeirah, United Arab Emirates

The following statistics helped desert INK achieve 5th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

4. Gianni Ranaulo Design

© Gianni Ranaulo Design

We are Gianni Ranaulo Design.

We are passionate and dedicated to the pursuit of exciting and engaging architectural design solutions.

Some of Gianni Ranaulo Design’s most prominent projects include:

• The Village, Villefontaine, France
• Waves Actisud, Metz, France
• ENOX, Gennevilliers, France
• Compagnie De Phalsbourg Headquarters, Paris, France

The following statistics helped Gianni Ranaulo Design achieve 4th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

3. Shape Architecture Practice + Research

© Shape Architecture Practice + Research

Shape has become an award-winning firm that leads the way in UAE Design. We’ve served a wide range of clients, including private developers, national ministries, and government entities. Our firm boasts a broad portfolio of projects, varying in scale from private residences to urban master plans.

We’ve spearheaded the creation of landmark hotels and residences, as well as cultural centers, institutional facilities and academic campuses. Shape’s work can be found in major cities in the UAE and beyond.

Some of Shape Architecture Practice + Research’s most prominent projects include:

• Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• Museum of Energy & Infrastructure, Sharjah, UAE, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
• Shees Friday Market, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

The following statistics helped Shape Architecture Practice + Research achieve 3rd place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

2. Etereo Design

© Etereo Design

With an astute understanding of architecture, a vibrant and artistically abundant Italian heritage, dotted with influences from the Middle East and harmoniously brought together with passion – Etereo is born. Working as creative inventors, our motivation is to design soulful and inspiring spaces that encourage creativity. It is this approach that drives all our projects, pushing us to go beyond the brief and lead from human experiences to create special places.

Architecture and design lie at the heart of our studio’s ethos and encompasses a multitude of different functions to see the project from conception to completion; from envisioning the artistic direction, selection of materials and finishes, sourcing from some of the best suppliers, to execution of all the finer details.

Some of Etereo Design’s most prominent projects include:

• Ghaf Majlis, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
• Sontuosa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Exclusivissima, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Rosso Bulgaro, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Eleganza, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Featured image: Petraviva, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The following statistics helped Etereo Design achieve 2nd place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

1. Killa Design

© Killa Design

As a firm, Killa Design is dedicated to creating innovative buildings that are timeless, environmentally sustainable and contextually inspired. We specialise in mixed-use, high rise, hospitality, office and residential projects. We also have significant experience in retail, theatre, museum, urban design and master planning projects.

With value-led building solutions, cutting-edge and creative thinking, we strive to build strong relationships with our clients by going beyond the brief to help transform their project vision into viable, liveable spaces. Our people are passionate about responsible design and its impact on the lives we touch every day.

Some of Killa Design’s most prominent projects include:

• Museum of the Future, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Office of the Future, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Address Beach Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Royal Arts Complex, Saudi Arabia
• SRG Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The following statistics helped Killa Design achieve 1st place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in United Arab Emirates:

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

• Project completed within the last 3 years
• A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
• Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
• High quality, in focus photographs
• At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
• Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
• Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.

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