UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Dubai
DSP Towers – South, Level 16, Al Barsha South 2
Our Dubai studio celebrates design throughout the Middle East and Africa. Our collaborative approach integrates architecture, interiors, and planning to curate projects that elevates the human experience and tells unique stories.
Awards
Honors+Recognitions
13
Explore Our Featured Work
- Knowledge Economic City
A New Transit-Oriented City Inspired by the Traditional Qualities of Madinah
The Latest
In the Media
press
Commercial Interior Design
Commercial Interior Design
Elevate the Human Experience Through Design
press
Commercial Interior Design
Commercial Interior Design
Inside Our Middle East Studio
press
Design Middle East
Design Middle East
Explore the New Dubai Office
press
Sleeper Magazine
Sleeper Magazine
Hilton Set for Saudi Arabian Mixed-Use Development The Point
13
Explore More of Our Work
People
Leadership
Our leaders mentor employee-owners, counsel clients, and share their design voice in their local communities. Learn more about their experience and connect with them below.
Jamal Salem
Middle East Region Director
Principal
Jamal Salem
Middle East Region Director
Principal
Jamal is responsible for design and client services throughout the Middle East, leading operations from the DLR Group Dubai office. He has practiced extensively in the Middle East, leading the successful delivery of high-profile projects in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Kevin Gent
International Director
Senior Principal
Kevin Gent
AIA, LEED AP BD+C
International Director
Senior Principal
As International Director, Kevin provides guidance to our Dubai and Shanghai offices to improve performance, and strengthen connections between domestic and international teams. He also acts as Enterprise Performance Leader, and is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and managing key metrics across all facets of the firm to optimize processes and deliver efficiencies.
Vaida Buchrotaite
Interior Design Director
Principal
Vaida Buchrotaite
Interior Design Director
Principal
Vaida leads our Dubai studio’s interior design team. Her experience spans large-scale developments, high-rise residential towers, and 5-star hotels. Her projects of note include Marriott Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, Palace Hotel in Sharjah, the former Sheraton Park Tower in London, and Le Meridien Bristol in Warsaw.
Essam Nabih
Business Development Director
Principal
Essam Nabih
PhD
Business Development Director
Principal
Essam builds solid relationships for our Dubai studio. His extensive architectural education, research, and experience as a registered architect equip him as a meaningful client and business partner in the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and around the world. His ability to balance clients' return on investment with design integrity results in notable solutions.
Henrique Dias
Hospitality Director
Principal
Henrique Dias
Intl. Assoc. AIA
Hospitality Director
Principal
Henrique Dias is the Regional Hospitality Design Director of DLR Group in the Middle East, a leading architecture firm. With over 19 years of experience, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the design industry, regionally and globally.
Kirby Zalameda
Mixed-Use Director
Principal
Kirby Zalameda
Mixed-Use Director
Principal
Kirby is a qualified and Registered Architect with over 26 years of experience in the field of architecture and planning in the Middle East, Asia, and North America. His substantial project experience includes residential, workplace, mixed-use, institutional, hospitality, commercial, educational and transportation buildings. In addition to building projects, he is also involved in urban design and master planning.
Shawn Meyers
Middle East Master Planning Director
Associate
Shawn Meyers
Middle East Master Planning Director
Associate
Shawn leads our master planning services in the Middle East. His experience spans New York, London, and Dubai; he is an expert on global best practices and urbanism strategies. He focuses on urban residential projects and urban intensification strategies, investigating the evolution of living and working patterns across the next generation of cities.
Stefan du Toit
Design Director, Landscape
Stefan du Toit
Design Director, Landscape
Stefan leads landscape architecture in the Middle East from our Dubai office. With 25+ years of international experience, he brings human-centered design to projects across MENA and Africa. His work spans waterfronts, campuses, and environmental rehabilitation. Balancing ecological preservation, cultural and contextual relevance to create meaningful outdoor spaces that connect people with place and nature.
Hospitality
We use a collaborative approach to understand a local community and then curate a project vision that aligns client goals and the brand personality of a hotel within that local environment. It’s storytelling through design to deliver a unique experience for every client and their guests.
