Copyright © 2025 Motivate Media Group. All rights reserved.
Meet Claire Craig, the debut entrant on our id50 power list for 2025, consisting of the region's best architects, interior designers, firms and product designers.
Claire Craig, Design Director, WA International
WA International is a Dubai-based award-winning interior design studio of luxury hotels and resort properties worldwide, with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality market. Established in 1993, the firm has worked with top hotel and resort brands in Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Riyadh, Luxor, Mumbai, Buenos Aires, Addis Ababa and Zanzibar to name a few. With a focus on timeless interiors, the firm has built a reputation of innovation, originality, and exceptional style. The talented team brings diversity of experience, fresh perspectives, and excellent technical expertise.
Ngorongoro Lodge Meliá Collection
Noteworthy projects include the Park Hyatt Zanzibar, where the firm undertook the restoration of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Park Chalet Autograph Collection and Pik Palace Autograph Collection in Azerbaijan, drawing inspiration from the majestic Caucasus Mountains for both resorts. Among the firm’s latest projects is the Ngorongoro Lodge Meliá Collection in Tanzania, which is particularly exciting as it lies on the edge of a crater. “Due to its remote location on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, restoring and refining existing features was our conscious decision.” shares Craig. “Considerable replanning of all the interiors also exposed the unique qualities of the existing structure.” The firm has also completed over 20 hotels, resorts and branded apartments in Dubai including One&Only The Palm, The St. Regis Downtown Dubai and Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk.
Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be another fascinating year for WA International, with several projects underway. “We always love working on projects in locations with clients who share our view of designing destinations which celebrate the local culture and complements its natural environment. We have several exciting projects we are working on at the moment which includes properties in Luxor, Jaipur, Lusaka, Saudi Arabia and Dubai,” shares Craig. On being asked what empowers Craig and her team, she shares, “The embodiment of enthusiasm, energy and inspiration provided by our clients and their trust and confidence in us to deliver their vision.” When being asked what the firm’s house style is, Craig shares, “It’s always been about respecting our clients’ brief and creating spaces that people love to visit and spend time in.”
Find our id50 Debuts list here.
View the full id50 list.
This contemporary duplex with glowing accents brings a touch of Paris elegance to one of China’s booming cities
High-performance wellness meets seamless integration of advanced technology, sustainability, and timeless style.
Here are the latest releases that we spotted at Milan Design Week
The newest Aman hotel in Bangkok offers culture, craft and timeless design
Lutron’s Alisse Keypads and S-Curve Shades are elevating Middle Eastern interiors with seamless control and sculptural beauty
Influenced by the geometric formation of crystals, Arctic elegantly captures and refracts light
From collectible creations and immersive installations to Saudi-driven showcases, the Kingdom’s first high-end contemporary design fair spotlighted local vision and global design excellence.
The Synua pivot door by Oikos defines the entrance of a contemporary villa in Jordan’s capital with scale, strength, and striking materiality.
How intentional design, emotional storytelling and clever craftsmanship can quickly transform challenging spaces into points of interest
Over 70% of the installation has been repurposed for this edition, showcasing the brand's dedication to circular economy.
Norm Architects shares its uniquely Scandinavian view of Japanese aesthetics