Sumaya Dabbagh is a Saudi architect and founder of Dabbagh Architects, a UAE-based practice known for its contextually driven, culturally sensitive approach to architecture. Educated in the UK at Bath University under the mentorship of Peter Smithson and Sir Ted Happold, Dabbagh’s design philosophy merges technical excellence with a poetic sensibility rooted in her dual heritage—bridging Middle Eastern traditions and Western architectural rigor. Following early career experiences in London and Paris, she returned to the Gulf in 1993 in search of a deeper understanding of identity and place. In 2002, after completing the award-winning Children’s City project with Schuster Pechtold and Partners, she established her own studio. Since then, her practice has delivered a range of acclaimed commercial, residential, cultural, and educational projects across the region. Dabbagh’s work is driven by a commitment to architecture as a tool for dialogue—across cultures, genders, and generations. A strong advocate for design excellence and equity in the profession, she was a founding member of the RIBA Gulf Chapter in 2009 and currently serves as its elected Chair.
