Dubai [UAE], September 17 (ANI/WAM): The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) unveiled the 15 finalists for its inaugural Middle East Award, highlighting transformative and socially impactful architecture across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
The projects range from the first purpose-built women-only mosque in the Muslim world to an ambitious plan transforming a former Saudi airport into the world’s largest city park. The shortlist also includes conservation initiatives for biodiverse nature reserves and experience centres inspired by indigenous Najdi design, showcasing architecture that merges innovation, sustainability, and cultural identity. The award winner will be announced during Dubai Design Week on November 5, 2025, followed by a dedicated event on November 7.
The 15 shortlisted projects span four countries—UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain—and feature regional and international architects from the UK, USA, Germany, Singapore, and Japan. They highlight a range of architectural approaches, from civic landmarks and adaptive reuse of historic buildings to innovative responses to climate change and biodiversity loss.
Notable projects include the Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary by Hopkins Architects in Algurm, featuring rounded pavilions supporting turtle and endangered bird rehabilitation; the World Food Waste Teahouse: Arabi-an by Mitsubishi Jisho Design in Dubai, the first food-concrete structure using tea leaves and dried fruits to create biodegradable, demountable tea spaces; the Buhais Geology Park Interpretive Centre by Hopkins Architects in Al-Madam Plain, comprising five pods inspired by fossilised urchins, linking visitors to prehistoric landscapes and ancient tombs; King Salman Park in Riyadh by Gerber Architekten, Buro Happold, and Setec, an ambitious regeneration of a former airport into a 16.7 km² green oasis with desert soil revitalisation, sustainable water use, and climate-resilient planting; the Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in Doha, the first contemporary women-only mosque in the Muslim world featuring over 5,000 light wells for a luminous atmosphere; the Jafar Centre, Dubai College by Godwin Austen Johnson, a flexible STEM learning hub prioritising daylight, acoustics, and sustainability; and the Wadi Safar Experience Center by Dar Al Omran – Rasem Badran in Riyadh, a cultural gateway reflecting Najdi architecture and Vision 2030 goals.
Several projects also explore heritage conservation and adaptive reuse. The Serai Wing, Bait Khalid Bin Ibrahim in Sharjah by ANARCHITECT converts 1950s family homes into a boutique hotel, balancing preservation with contemporary design.
Kerem Cengiz, Jury Chair for Middle East Awards, said, “The Middle East’s shortlist reflects a region in architectural renaissance. From adaptive reuse to bold urban interventions and socially responsive spaces, these projects embrace innovation while honouring heritage. Together, they represent a new architectural language for the Middle East, imaginative and profoundly transformative.”
RIBA President Chris Williamson added, “These projects show how architecture in the Middle East is evolving with purpose, sensitivity, and ambition. They demonstrate creativity, sustainability, and human focus, enriching communities and responding to climate realities. This award recognises that ambition and shares it on the international stage.”
Shortlisted projects span categories such as Adaptive Reuse, Design for Living, Future Projects, Social Architecture, Sustainability and Resilience, Temporary Architecture, and RIBA Member Projects, with Future Projects and Temporary Architecture making their debut to reflect evolving priorities in contemporary architectural practice. (ANI/WAM)
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