Close

id50 2025 – Claire Craig

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.

The Latest

Inside The Charleston

A tribute to Galle Fort’s complex heritage, The Charleston blends Art Deco elegance with Sri Lankan artistry and Bawa-infused modernism

buddha bar dubai marina

Design Take: Buddha Bar

We unveil the story behind the iconic design of the much-loved Buddha Bar in Grosvenor House.

A Layered Narrative

An Edwardian home in London becomes a serene gallery of culture, craft and contemporary design

A Brand Symphony

Kader Mithani, CEO of Casamia, and Gian Luca Gessi, CEO of Gessi, reflect on the partnership between the two brands

The Art of Wellness

Kintsugi in Abu Dhabi, situated in a seven-storey villa, offers the ultimate zen retreat

Design Take: Inside the Royal Suite at Jumeirah Al Naseem

With sweeping views of the ocean and Burj Al Arab, this two bedroom royal suite offers a lush stay.

Elevated Living

Designed by La Bottega Interiors, this penthouse at the Delano Dubai echoes soft minimalism

Quiet Luxury

Studio SuCo transforms a villa in Dubailand into a refined home

Contrasting Textures

Located in Al Barari and designed by BONE Studio, this home provides both openness and intimacy through the unique use of materials

Stillness, Form and Function

Yasmin Farahmandy of Y Design Interior has designed a home for a creative from the film industry

From Private to Public

How ELE Interior is reshaping hospitality and commercial spaces around the world – while staying unmistakably itself

A collaborative design journey

A Life By Design (ALBD) Group and Condor Developers have collaborated on some standout spaces in Dubai