Arc Middle East
1-on-1 with the Middle East's Leading Architects
February 7-10, 2025
Muscat, Oman
About
1-on-1 Meetings and Networking with the Middle East's Leading Commercial Architects
Arc Middle East is the event for manufacturers who want an edge in winning high-value construction projects throughout the Middle East.
Since 2010, it’s been chosen by some of the biggest names in the industry as their most effective way to connect with architects throughout the Gulf and beyond.
The pipeline across the Middle East over the next few years is mind-blowing. Saudi Arabia’s construction market alone is valued at $1.7 Trillion, with another $700million of projects in the pipeline across the UAE.
And in the thick of it all, the big architecture and construction firms are coming to Arc Middle East to find the right building product manufacturers who can help them deliver their clients’ visions. And that’s where you come in…
Discover the highlights from Arc Middle East 2024 – read our review!
Who Attends
The Middle East's Leading Commercial Architects. Guaranteed.
Months of research and prospecting goes into building the guest list for Arc Middle East. Our dedicated search team identify and recruit only the most qualified candidates, following a three stage process:
Step 1) Pinpoint the largest, most high-profile projects in the Middle East in design stages
Step 2) Identify the architectural firms involved and the Principals leading the design and specification
Step 3) Invite those Principals to submit an application outlining their credentials. Accept and enrol pending final QC.
Arc Middle East regular attendees include:
Ala Hason
Vice President
HKS
Khaled Al-Doghry
Principal Architect
Saudconsult
Matthew Utley
Principal
Grimshaw
Marc Cerone
Design Director
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill
Dr. Mustafa Alper Alhan
Director / Principal
Tabanlioglu
Ralf Steinhauser
Director
RSP Architects
Fadi Jabri
Principal
Nikken Sekkei
Arun Puri
Head of Architectural Tech Services
Gulf Consult
The Projects
Large-Scale Commercial Projects Throughout the Middle East
Whether it’s hospitality, healthcare, workplace, sports, education, public or government, Arc Middle East delivers the true commercial project influencers.
Scroll down to get an idea of the commercial projects that will be on the table at Arc Middle East this year.
Every single architect and specifier you’ll meet has a winnable portfolio of major commercial projects and the clout to influence who gets specified and who doesn’t.
How it works
This is NOT a trade show
You know exactly who’s going to be here and you will have a number of guaranteed, pre-scheduled 1-to-1 meetings with the ‘buyers’ of your choice. And this is just the start.
You are all together for 3 days and 3 nights at a luxury resort, so there’s time and space to meet everybody and it’s this abundance of natural networking that opens up a whole world of possibilities. Because there’s a real community feel here and everyone’s more relaxed and open and any number of conversations can light up the commercial project trail right in front of you – you’ll see!
If you are trying to expand your company’s sales opportunities in the Middle East and you want the most pre-qualified, established and renowned set of design professionals, I don’t know of a better forum that you could get involved in.
If you are trying to expand your company’s sales opportunities in the Middle East and you want the most pre-qualified, established and renowned set of design professionals, I don’t know of a better forum that you could get involved in.
Dean Moilanen
Program
PLEASE NOTE: This is last year’s program. Check back soon for the 2025 schedule.
Seminar timings and/or content may be varied at our discretion.
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
Friday, February 7
Saturday, February 8
Synopsis
Attend this seminar to better understand how destination development can affect the design, architecture and mater planning of sustainable and inclusive spaces and experiences that benefit both people and planet. Covering the challenges and opportunities of transforming designs into living, operational destinations. The speaker will share their insights and experiences on creating regenerative and inclusive destinations that enhance the quality of life and well-being for visitors and local communities. The seminar will be an interactive and engaging session that will inspire the participants to think creatively and collaboratively about the future of design for the tourism industry.
Biography
Rosanna joined Red Sea Global (RSG) in 2022 as Executive Director – Destination Development charged with defining and implementing the destination development strategy. The first destination in the company’s portfolio, The Red Sea, sits over 28,000 km² of pristine lands and waters, includes a vast archipelago of more than 90 islands, mountain canyons, dormant volcanoes, and ancient culture and heritage sites. Rosanna is responsible for ensuring that the company continues to set new standards in regenerative tourism through the creation of unique travel experiences across the portfolio of RSG.
With extensive experience in the design and development of destinations, Rosanna has created the vision and positioning, designed, developed, and activated numerous projects, leading the process from feasibility through to delivery.
Rosanna has specific knowledge in the key landscapes of Saudi Arabia and unique experience in the waterfront, mountain and desertscape developments of the Kingdom and brings both her global industry expertise and track record of delivering regional campaigns. She has worked with multiple key stakeholders, both governmental and private sector entities in the Kingdom to align objectives and create sustainable plans that align with the goals of Vision 2030.
Winning Leading Female in Business Enterprise in KSA, Growth Strategy CEO of the Year 2021, and named in the Top 20 Most Inspirational CEOs to Watch, 2022, Rosanna is considered a much sought after voice on how to best succeed in the region.
Her experience includes working at the President’s Office at the Federation International De L’Autombile (London, Geneva, Paris) & the F1 Race Director; Partner at Galadari, UAE for over a decade; advisory Board Member of UPS EXPO 2020; and consortium member for a KSA mega project, project advisor to PIF, designing and delivering adventure, sports and leisure assets and events across KSA, whilst acting as special advisor to international investors, boards and implementation teams in the entertainment, hospitality, tourism sectors in Saudi Arabia. She has led the evolution and operation of tourism and hospitality projects in the region, bringing both public and private sector together to successfully form sustainable, collaborative partnerships.
Synopsis
Fatigue dominates the lives of those without direction or dreams. But without goals dreams are simply dreams. Without processes though, goals are simply goals. If you enjoy the process then you enjoy both the journey and the goal. How does one set lofty motivational goals without causing overwhelm? The percentage play in life is to reduce goals so they are more attainable but the easy way is a trap, it denies you growth. Not aspiring to more carries with it the burden of unfulfilled ambition. To grow you must breach your comfort zone. Stumbling is essential in becoming a great leader. Do you have the guts to fail? Do you have the resilience? What if you don’t? Does adversity reveal character or build it? How do you behave in the face of seemingly insurmountable pressure?
All the above went through my mind. Let me tell you about the decisions made, the mistakes, the uncertainty, the lessons and the outcomes.
Biography
Tim is now an expert in mental resilience, having turned his own struggles with burnout, severe arthritis and a reconstructed shoulder into triumph by rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic—a feat as rare as going to space. For 8 gruelling weeks, he faced the ocean's might on minimal sleep, turning his ordeal into powerful lessons on resilience, overcoming toxic ambition, and setting bold goals. His captivating journey from a global high-stakes business leader to an inspirational speaker and burnout coach has motivated individuals and elite teams worldwide. Discover how Tim's unique insights can transform challenges into unparalleled strength and purpose.
Sunday, February 9
Synopsis
Join us for a thought-provoking seminar that delves into the realm of heritage building techniques from a modern, sustainable perspective. “Sustainable Heritage: Revitalizing the Past through Innovative Building Techniques” will explore the intersection of tradition and innovation, focusing on waste management, upcycling, smart resource utilization, and recyclability in the context of preserving and enhancing our cultural heritage.
This seminar aims to ignite a dialogue among architects, preservationists, and sustainability enthusiasts, encouraging them to rethink conventional approaches to heritage conservation. By examining how historical building methods can be reimagined through eco-friendly practices, we will discover ways to breathe new life into old structures while minimizing environmental impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a conversation that envisions a harmonious coexistence of the past and the future in the realm of sustainable heritage preservation.
Biography
Hi, I’m Güray, the Head of Architectural Design & Spatial Strategy at ATÖLYE—I love working on all scales and aspects of architecture, from interiors to masterplans. I was born and raised in Istanbul, which probably is why I love multi-layered approaches to design.
I’m also a professional musician, a wanna-be writer, a father and a dog lover.
Güray joined ATÖLYE in 2022 as Head of Architectural Design & Spatial Strategy, where he leads the architectural team. He has over two decades of experience in various scales, from interiors to masterplans, spanning global geography. Having worked on numerous projects, he proudly has an equal passion for all typologies and scales.
A Yildiz Technical University graduate, Güray started his career with one of Turkey’s leading architectural thinkers and author Prof. Ihsan Bilgin -founder of the Bilgi University Architecture Program- , where his first-ever projects were the Ottoman Bank Museum and Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence. Before starting his practice, he worked on top-tier projects, gaining experience in various categories such as hospitality, workspaces, retail, residential and exhibition design. He also tutored architectural design studios at Gebze Technical and Maltepe Universities during this period. Before joining ATÖLYE, he spent five years as a senior associate at Tabanlioglu Architects – where he led many large-scale international projects, competitions and exhibitions.
A man of many hats, Güray is one of the three organizers/curators of the contemporary art exhibition Değiş Tokuş Sergi. He has written and published short stories in renowned literary magazines. Outside of architecture, his main passion is music. Güray is the founder and frontman of two blues bands, one of which released its debut album during the pandemic and gained global recognition. He speaks Turkish, English, and Hungarian and is an avid record and guitar collector.
Synopsis
In a time marked by a relentless technological progress, Architects consistently drive innovation and adaptation. Today, they lead a shift into a hybrid practice of Architecture, seamlessly blending physical and immersive digital spaces, often known as the metaverse.
Today, while society and dwelling are transitioning undoubtedly of its majority to digital spaces, it comes with no surprise that architects stand at the forefront of today’s tech revolution to design these spaces. The only profession that juggles effortlessly design and build tools, Architecture is -as it always has been – ever integrating cutting-edge tools into their workflow to better perform their jobs. From BIM to parametric design tools, and now the impossible-to-be-unseen Ai design generation, Architects are propelling us into uncharted metaverse territories.
Here, not only we unleash limitless creativity, but we undoubtedly bring unique benefits to our clients. This subtle shift promises mutual enrichment.
Architects pioneer this digital frontier, guiding us from 2D screens to immersive 3D environments. This isn’t just adaptation; it’s Architects shaping the future.
Join us as we delve into how architects redefine design and digital evolution in this hybrid practice, unlocking a new world of possibilities for themselves and their clients. Architects don’t just construct buildings; they craft a new era of design, where the physical and digital seamlessly intertwine.
Biography
MARIANA CABUGUEIRA is a master Architect and Urban Designer from Portugal; former Senior Architect Designer at Zaha Hadid Architects; Design Tutor; Academic Speaker; currently Directing Wilder World Metaverse Future Era and running her own studio of Meta-Fluid Design with P.A. Academy.
Mariana Graduated from the School of Architecture in Lisbon and the Politecnico di Milano. She moved to London to complete a second Master of Architectural Design and technology, through the Postgrad course: Design Research Laboratory at the Architectural Association School of London.
Her research interests gravitate around Parametric Design; Generative Design; Digital Design and Robotic Fabrication in Architecture.
Mariana joined Zaha Hadid Architects after graduating from the AA School in 2017. She was part of the Competition cluster for 5 years and the designer of winning projects such as: Navi Mumbai Airport; Western Sydney Airport; Exhibition Centre Beijing; the competition and completion of Tower C in Shenzhen.
Currently Mariana is designing the metaverse with Wilder World. She holds the title of the Architect Director of the Meta Future Era.
MARIANA CABUGUEIRA es una maestra Arquitecta y Diseñadora Urbana de Portugal; ex arquitecta diseñadora sénior en Zaha Hadid Architects; Tutora de Diseño; Ponente Académico; actualmente dirige Wilder World Metaverse Future Era y dirige su propio estudio de Meta-Fluid Design con P.A. Academia.
Mariana es graduada de la Escuela de Arquitectura de Lisboa y del Politecnico di Milano. Se mudó a Londres para completar una segunda Maestría en Diseño Arquitectónico y tecnología, a través del curso de Posgrado: Laboratorio de Investigación de Diseño en la Architectural Association School of London.
Sus intereses de investigación gravitan en torno al Diseño Paramétrico; Diseño Generativo; Diseño Digital y Fabricación Robótica en Arquitectura.
Mariana se unió a Zaha Hadid Architects después de graduarse de la Escuela AA en 2017. Fue parte del grupo de Competencia durante 5 años y diseñadora de proyectos ganadores como: Navi Mumbai Airport; Aeropuerto de Sídney Occidental; Centro de Exposiciones de Pekín; el concurso y finalización de la Torre C en Shenzhen.
Actualmente Mariana está diseñando el metaverso con Wilder World. Tiene el título de Arquitecta Directora de Meta Future Era.
Monday, February 10
Arc Middle East was fruitful, excellent, concise, productive, yielding positive results and further collaboration. After thorough and fruitful meetings, many are newly integrated in specs.