Getting in front of the architects with true influence at the Middle East’s biggest firms
The architects with true influence at the Middle East’s biggest firms are very, very difficult to get in front of. In fact, try as you might with all the sales savviness and marketing might you can summon, unless you have some kind of ‘in’ with these firms, you’re going to struggle.
Getting 50 Principals, Partners and Heads of Specification from firms such as Dar Al-Handasah, HKS, HOK, Jacobs, Perkins Eastman, Red Sea Global and others to down tools and leave their projects and offices for a few days made a compelling starting point for attending manufacturers at Arc Middle East 2025.
These super-busy architects need to find suppliers they can rely on
These super-busy architects need an efficient way of finding manufacturers they can rely on: project partners who, over time, they can call on when they need advice or support to become trusted advisers who will help them make better specification choices for their clients and their firms. And so, these senior architects with their respective project aspirations and frustrations headed to Kempinski Hotel, Muscat for Arc Middle East, February 7-10, 2025.
Pre-Event Tour – Royal Opera House
The first opportunity attending suppliers had to hang out with these major project influencers was on the Pre-Event Tour. A natural ice-breaker, the tour gives everyone a chance to settle into the event and to find their natural networking flow as they gathered for a guided tour of Muscat’s Royal Opera House.
The Pre-Event Tour comes highly recommended, particularly for those attending their first BOND event. You just need to get to the event in good time, jump on the bus, sit next to someone you don’t know, say hello and see what opens up. And, if that person just happens to be one of the most influential architects in the UAE… You get the picture. It also means you’ll have some familiar, friendly faces to greet you at the Welcome Dinner later.
Welcome Dinner
And, as the sun was setting, all in attendance, with their 100s of years of combined commercial project experience, their unique stories and the contacts they have made along the way, gathered poolside for the first night of networking over some delicious F&B. Some retired early – big day tomorrow. Some did not...
Breakfast had a slightly gentler murmur of conversation as familiar nods and smiles were exchanged. Conversations and brains re-ignited, all headed to find the seminar room for the one about AI’s Impact on Architecture & Innovation.
And so, to the meetings.
1-on-1 with the Middle East's Leading Architects
Provisional schedules had been sent out two weeks before the event for approval and any desired tweaking. And, bang on time, the meetings room erupted with the sounds of introductions, chairs shuffling forward, and much animated conversation as veteran and first-time supplier attendees finally sat down 1-on-1 with the architect or designer they may have been chasing for years.
First morning tends to fly by in a bit of a whirlwind but there is always a palpable feeling of relief as everyone starts to settle in and find their flow, realising that these big-name architects and designers are every bit as approachable and open as they could have hoped.
One of the most influential and helpful tables they could wish to find
And, as our buzzing contingent heads poolside and plates are filled from the spectacular buffet before finding tables, many experience a delightful revelation that they have found themselves a seat at one of the most influential and helpful tables they could wish to find as more introductions are made and leads continue to present themselves.
Pockets already starting to bulge with business cards and minds stimulated by conversation and chocolate dessert, it’s back to the seminar room for the one about Designing Spaces for Longer, Healthier & Happier Living. Life-affirming stuff!
Then back to the business of 1-on-1 meetings for the rest of the afternoon.
And it’s around this time when suppliers attending their first event, start to remember some of those tips and insights that BOND made available to them to make sure they arrived fully prep’d: 3 Precious Days - Make them count. ‘Be curious’. ‘Ask questions’. And, as they remember to do exactly that, dropping the sales pitch and allowing some air and life into the conversation, the BONDing truly begins and meaningful business is given its chance to follow.
...doors that seemed resolutely shut only yesterday are finally starting to open.
First ‘business day’ done and there’s time to freshen up, call home, check in with the office and share news of your first day, likely with a sprinkling of cautious optimism. It’s early days but doors that seemed resolutely shut only yesterday are finally starting to open and, perhaps best of all, you’re making friends in some very interesting places and you’re having fun.
A lot can happen in a day. Inevitable first night nerves are all but a memory as you put on ‘that’ shirt and head for the beachside party at the Zale Club and Lounge. More delicious food, a beverage or two and some deep and meaningfuls with new friends before dancing the night away against the stunning backdrop of the Arabian Sea.
Next morning, breakfast is a much more relaxed affair than on your first day as you meet more friendly nods and smiles and you know exactly where to locate coffee supplies and your favourite brekkie bits. And it's back to the seminar room for the one about Digital Innovation in the MENA Region.
The Middle East's most dynamic and helpful commercial project community
As the seminar draws to a close, you start to wonder what your final day at the heart of the Middle East’s most dynamic and helpful commercial project community will bring. And it starts very promisingly with a warm handshake as you sit down 1-on-1 with that friendly chap from Gensler who was kind enough to comment on your shirt last night.
And all too quickly, you find yourself sitting on a bus making its way to central Muscat for a sophisticated-sounding off-site dining experience and some beautifully-lit views of the Royal Opera House as your final night’s backdrop. Who else might you meet tonight? Just breathe, be yourself, move around a bit and say hello to whoever meets your eye. What happens from there is your story.
Arc Middle East 2026 is happening February 6-9, 2026 in Abu Dhabi. If you are at all curious to know more about who is coming, how it works and what you could achieve, please get in touch right now.
The following stats and comments are taken from the survey that all attendees were asked to complete. We have also included some comments from Linkedin around the event.
How do you rate Arc Middle East overall? 4.6/5
Fantastic event. The quality and level of potential customer contacts available exceeded our expectations. It is very difficult to gain this level of dedicated time with top contacts and BOND continues to deliver.
Josh Blair Special-Lite
How would you rate the customer service you received prior to the event? 4.8/5
There is nothing to declare. The customer service was exceptional.
Catia Nunes, Grad System, Business Export Manager.
How do you rate the management and coordination from the BOND Team onsite? 5/5
The team was always available, responsive, and ensured that all details were taken care of efficiently. Their professionalism and attentiveness made the experience smooth and stress-free. I truly appreciated their effort in making everything run so well.
Cendrella Nasrany, Carlisle Syntec Middle East, technical and Sales representative-Lebanon
Comments on LinkedIn
