Global Outlook, Local Presence

From its modest beginnings in 2013 as a small satellite operation working on the Mall of the Emirates expansion, DLR Group has transformed into a fully established regional studio in Dubai, at the helm of large-scale, award-winning projects throughout the GCC and beyond. The group’s trajectory in the Middle East epitomises a long-term commitment to growth and regional relevance, and a focus on integrated design. 

Today, the Dubai studio hosts over 80 professionals providing architecture, interiors, master planning, landscape architecture and technical design. DLR Group’s integrated approach means that multidisciplinary teams collaborate from the earliest project stages, ensuring seamless service delivery. 

“This growth has been both strategic and organic,” shares Henrique Dias, Principal and Middle East Hospitality Design Director for DLR Group. “In 2020, we introduced dedicated interior design leadership and added landscape architecture and urban design services to support fully integrated delivery. We’ve also invested in local talent, strengthened ties with public and private sector clients, and built long-term partnerships that allow us to engage in projects from concept through execution.” 

“We’ve also invested in local talent, strengthened ties with public and private sector clients, and built long-term partnerships that allow us to engage in projects from concept through execution.”

Notable Projects 

What started with retail and hospitality ventures has expanded to encompass complex mixed-use developments, cultural destinations, education facilities, data centres and master plans across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt. Landmark projects include Madinah Gate, Future City in Baghdad, and numerous NEOM developments. Madinah Gate is one of the most ambitious urban developments currently underway in Saudi Arabia, and a key component of the broader Knowledge Economic City (KEC) master plan in Madinah. Strategically located between the Prophet’s Mosque, the Haramain High-Speed Rail Station and the international airport, the project is designed as the first true transit-oriented development (TOD) in the city. Madinah Gate is being developed to support the movement of millions of pilgrims annually while providing a contemporary urban experience that reflects the sacred context of the city. The master plan includes a mix of retail, hospitality, public plazas and cultural amenities, all seamlessly connected through shaded pedestrian networks and multimodal access points. At the heart of the development is a new DoubleTree by Hilton, set to be the tallest habitable building in Madinah and a new landmark for the city. The architecture draws inspiration from local vernacular traditions, reinterpreting the spirit of Madinah’s historic neighbourhoods through clustered massing, natural stone finishes and triangular motifs derived from traditional crafts. 

Ogami

The design emphasises human-scale connections, with intimate village-like clusters arranged along dynamic, walkable pathways. These clusters reflect the journey of the pilgrim, offering moments of pause, reflection and arrival. The integration of spiritual, cultural and practical elements into the urban fabric ensures the project serves not only as a gateway to the holy city but also as a vibrant hub for the local community. This project is a benchmark in how faith-based tourism, urban development and contextual architecture can coexist meaningfully. 

Another project, Ogami, is a coastal destination under development in Ras El Hikma, Egypt. Spanning 1.8 square kilometres (440 acres) along the Mediterranean shoreline, the project is led by master developer SODIC, with DLR Group responsible for master planning and architectural design. 

“Ogami is guided by a design philosophy we call the state of optimal flow – a spatial, sensory and emotional rhythm that connects people, place and purpose,” shares Dias. 

The concept is realised through a highly choreographed layout of cascading terraces, interlinked lagoons, pedestrian promenades and quiet green corridors that follow the natural slope of the site. Nearly 2,000 units, including villas, twin houses, townhouses and chalets, are positioned to maximise views of the sea or water features. The architecture is intentionally understated, blending Mediterranean openness with Japanese minimalism to create a sense of refined calm. North-facing façades allow for optimal daylight and sunset views, while the building palette emphasises natural textures, warm tones and soft transitions between indoor and outdoor environments. 

DLR Group’s diverse portfolio also spans luxury resorts, data centres, cultural districts and residential communities – all united by a belief that design should elevate the human experience. When asked what remains constant, Dias says, “Our belief that design should elevate the human experience. That ethos is embedded in everything we do, from early strategy to final handover, and continues to define our role in shaping the built environment across the Middle East.”  What is common to all these projects is a pervasive ‘sense of place’. Dias emphasises that a genuine sense of place stems from a deep understanding of context, culture, environment and social rhythms. 

“It’s not just about what a place looks like, but how it functions, how people move through it, and what it means to those who use it,” shares Dias. “That means spending time understanding the rhythms of daily life, the climate, the history and how the community interacts with its surroundings. Authentic, intuitive places arise from designs that ask what a place should become, carefully considering layout, orientation and flow.” 

Members of DLR Group’s leadership team (from left) Vaida Buchrotaite, Interior Design Director; Jamal Salem, Middle East Regional Director; Henrique Dias, Hospitality Director and Essam Nabih, Business Development Director

Gearing for Expansion 

DLR Group’s Dubai studio continues to serve as a regional hub, extending design-led expertise across the GCC, North Africa and beyond. Hosting a connected studio model allows the firm to collaborate across time zones and disciplines, setting it apart by deploying tailor-made teams for each client’s unique ambitions. As a global, 100% employee-owned firm with 33 offices worldwide, the draw for clients is a fully integrated, multidisciplinary design service. This includes architecture, interiors, planning, landscape architecture and engineering expertise, delivered seamlessly across geographies. 

Pushing Boundaries in Innovation and Sustainability 

Innovation, as Dias puts it, begins with challenging the conventional. “Not just in how we build, but in how we think,” he shares. “It’s about reimagining the design process from the ground up: questioning assumptions, re-evaluating priorities, and being unafraid to ask why; why are we building this, who is it truly for, and what value will it bring long-term?” 

“Success is not just about what a project looks like, but how it performs, how it ages and how it serves people and place over time”

Sustainability at DLR Group is viewed as regeneration, as opposed to efficiency, achieved by working with the climate, selecting low-impact and local materials, and designing spaces adaptable to changing needs. “It also means knowing when not to build and having the discipline to pursue solutions that add real, lasting value socially, environmentally and culturally – not just to meet a checklist,” shares Dias. He states that close collaboration with engineers, consultants, artisans and local experts is essential for embedding innovation in each project, using digital tools, parametric modelling, circular economy principles and low-carbon systems. “Success is not just about what a project looks like, but how it performs, how it ages and how it serves people and place over time,” shares Dias. “When innovation and sustainability are truly integrated – woven into the narrative rather than layered on top – the result is a project that not only responds to the present but anticipates the future.” 

DLR Group’s evolution in the Middle East is a story of strategic growth, multidisciplinary excellence and a passionate commitment to designing spaces that enrich the human experience, now and into the future.

 

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Photography: Mark Mathew