The Chapter began the year strong, with momentum following the 2017 Year End Conference and Design Awards held In Sharjah, UAE. We have held AIA lectures and site visits in 5 countries already, including a lecture by BiG and a preview tour of the iTHRA Center for World Culture by Snohetta, in Dharan Saudi Arabia. Our popular “Leaders in Architecture MENA” Series of events held in Dubai will be back with its second 2018 installment this summer. We have lectures planned later this year with Zaha Hadid Architects, and Calatrava.

We have worked to bolster partnerships with existing partners and expand with new relationships, participating in 8 partner events to date with several more planned this year. We have participated in offering competition opportunities to our members in Saudi Arabia and UAE.

We are exploring the formation of an AAH (Academy of Architecture on Health) component in the Middle East for which we will add a category to our annual design awards.

Our Year End Conference and Design Awards are planned for 30 November to 01 December to be held in Manama, Bahrain. The programs will explore challenges, opportunity and successes with regard to regional response to projects throughout our region. We will host the event, which in historic Muhharaq, an area with a history more than 5,000 year.

The AIA Middle East Chapter is around 400 members strong operating in 10 countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Daniel Henderer, AIA, LEED AP
President
AIA Middle East