The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the winners of its inaugural RIBA Middle East Awards, recognizing nine outstanding projects across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. The winning designs showcase the region’s architectural ambition and diversity, celebrating projects that excel in their respective categories and demonstrate a deep understanding of context, heritage, and culture.
“We’re thrilled to see the Middle East’s best architecture celebrated,” said Chris Williamson, RIBA President. “These projects demonstrate architecture’s growing influence in shaping how people live, learn, and come together across the region.”
The winners include:
The Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, which won the Social Architecture award for its innovative design that fosters equality and community engagement. The center, conceived by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, is the world’s first purpose-built contemporary women’s mosque.
The Serai Wing, Bait Khalid Bin Ibrahim, designed by ANARCHITECT, won the Adaptive Reuse award for transforming two 1950s pearl-merchant homes into a serene boutique hotel, blending Sharjah’s rich past with contemporary comfort.
Al Wasl Plaza, designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, won the Design for Living award for its evolution into a vibrant community hub at the heart of Expo City.
King Salman Park, designed by Gerber Architekten, Buro Happold, and Setec, won the Future Project award for its masterful transformation of a former airport into the world’s largest urban park.
Other winners include Hopkins Architects, who received multiple awards for their projects, including Buhais Geology Park Interpretive Centre and Expo 2020 Thematic Districts.
“The winning projects demonstrate disciplined responses to climate, culture, and community,” said Kerem Cengiz, RIBA Jury Chair for the Middle East Awards. “They bring public value—spaces that invite participation, rather than mere admiration.”
Image Courtesy: world-architects
