RIBA Announces Finalists for Inaugural Middle East Award, Highlighting Transformative Architecture in the GCC

Dubai, September 17, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the 15 finalists for its first Middle East Award, a new initiative recognizing transformative and socially impactful architecture across the Gulf region. The winner will be revealed on 5 November during Dubai Design Week, followed by a dedicated event on 7 November.

The shortlist includes projects from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, reflecting a regional architectural renaissance that combines innovation, sustainability, and cultural identity. Entries come from regional and international firms spanning the UK, USA, Germany, Singapore, and Japan.

Highlights include the Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women in Doha by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the first purpose-built contemporary mosque for women in the Muslim world; King Salman Park in Riyadh by Gerber Architekten, Buro Happold and Setec, which is converting a former airport into the world’s largest urban park; and the Wadi Safar Experience Center in Riyadh by Dar Al Omran – Rasem Badran, which integrates Najdi design with immersive cultural experiences linked to Vision 2030.

Other shortlisted works emphasize biodiversity, climate resilience, and adaptive reuse. These include the Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary in the UAE, the World Food Waste Teahouse: Arabi-an in Dubai, which uses food-concrete made from tea leaves and dried fruits, and the Serai Wing in Sharjah, which transforms 1950s merchant houses into a boutique hotel.

Kerem Cengiz, Jury Chair for the Middle East Awards, described the shortlist as “a powerful reflection of a region in architectural renaissance, where cultural identity is alive, evolving, and deeply embedded in contemporary form.”

Chris Williamson, President of RIBA, said the projects demonstrate how architecture in the Middle East is “evolving with purpose, sensitivity, and ambition” in the face of social and environmental challenges.

Categories for the award include Adaptive Reuse, Design for Living, Future Projects, RIBA Member, Social Architecture, Sustainability and Resilience, and Temporary Architecture – with the latter two debuting in the region for the first time.