Before the Launch: Spotlight Arabia Sets the Stage for New Arabian-Architects Platform

Following a short prelaunch phase under the banner of Spotlight Arabia, the platform will officially launch early next year, providing a curated vision of the people, projects, and ideas shaping the Gulf’s rapidly evolving built environment. A digital meeting point for the industry, Arabian-Architects.com will feature editorial content, professional profiles, and curated project showcases—highlighting the depth, diversity, and ambition driving and positioning Arabian design as a competitive contributor to the global scene.

Renato Turri, CEO and Partner of PSA Publishers Ltd, says: “The launch of Arabian-Architects.com is part of our long-term goal to expand our network, and we believe now is the right time to capture the creativity and energy emerging from this dynamic, forward-thinking region. We want to harness and foster that energy, share it on a global scale, and play a role in the region’s continued development.”

Founded in Switzerland in 1994, PSA Publishers and its online platform, World-Architects, were pioneers in taking architecture into the digital sphere—a natural evolution from curating and publishing traditional annual architecture books. Three decades on, it serves as a global platform showcasing over 3,000 architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, lighting designers, manufacturers, and photographers from more than 50 countries. World-Architects provides content at the highest level by carefully selecting members and published content, and in turn it is recognized as an integral source of information for high-quality contemporary architecture.

“Our mission has always been to bring together architects, engineers, and interior designers with clients, and the online platform allows us to reach a far wider audience,” explains New York–based John Hill, architect and Editor-in-Chief of the World-Architects Magazine. “Architects love to look at the work of other architects. The platform helps us engage younger architects and students, and also serves as a valuable resource for job-seekers. The media follows us too, to find ideas for feature articles and emerging trends; the platform has universal appeal.”

Most recently, World-Architects launched Africa-Architects.com, which aims to encompass all of the continent’s 54 countries. The global network also includes platforms for the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as dedicated sites for Italy, Spain, Japan, and China. While Arabian-Architects.com will initially focus on the countries of the Arabian Peninsula (the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman), it will soon expand to include the wider region—encompassing Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and North Africa. As Hill is keen to point out, “We see a lot of great talent across the region and look forward to showcasing its creativity.”

“Chinese-Architects.com, established in 2006, is one of our highest-quality platforms,” Hill says. “We were fortunate to have Wang Shu on the platform before he won the 2012 Pritzker Prize, and we immediately noticed an increase in traffic. The profile of his firm, Amateur Architecture Studio, was their only online presence at that time,” he adds with a smile. “It’s certainly not the case that registering with World-Architects guarantees a major prize—but we like to think it’s where you can be discovered. We encourage designers to use the platform to showcase as much of their work and achievements as possible—especially those who don’t yet have their own website.”

Following the China platform’s success, leading German technology firm JUNG has generously joined the initiative to further broaden the awareness of Arabian-Architects.com, which will include the hosting of around 50 architects on the site. Most of the platforms are involved in regional exhibitions, community talks, educational initiatives, and award programs. “We are confident that Arabian-Architects.com will grow quickly and provide a serious and engaging platform where local talent can shine and prosper—and encourage and nurture younger generations of creatives,” says Hill.

Design strategist Esra Lemmens has been tasked with identifying the wealth of often-undiscovered regional talent—which is frequently overshadowed by “starchitects” like Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Norman Foster, Kengo Kuma, and Zaha Hadid, who have been traditionally associated with the region’s most prestigious landmark projects.

“We have an abundance of bold projects and emerging talent, but too often they’re fragmented or overshadowed by mega-developments. This platform arrives at exactly the right moment to connect the dots—unifying diverse voices into a cohesive narrative and showing that Middle Eastern architecture is far more than iconic façades. It offers a shared space for designers and thinkers to reflect, critique, and inspire one another—just when that dialogue is most needed,” she says with conviction.

Lemmens is determined to make this media platform stand out, stating: “I envision it as a living anthology of Middle Eastern architecture—an oasis of independent ideas amid a landscape often saturated with fleeting images. I want it to bring a sense of reality—projects not just displayed as eye-candy, but presented in depth and understood within their cultural and creative context. The aim is to connect our region’s rich heritage with its daring innovations, so that each project speaks to deeper themes of identity, resilience, and aspiration.”

Reflecting on the criteria that guided her selection of the first projects and contributors, Lemmens says: “This felt like assembling a mosaic of the region’s creativity. I looked for work that goes beyond aesthetic brilliance — projects with cultural resonance, innovative thinking, or a compelling story about how design can shape lives. I invited contributors with distinct and thoughtful voices, ensuring a mix of perspectives and geographies, and presenting a multifaceted picture of what truly matters here.”

“I see veteran and emerging architects as points on a continuum rather than opposites—both enrich the narrative. We’ll mix them intentionally and seamlessly, each illuminating the other. The focus is on ideas and themes, not reputations,” she states.

Combining regional values with global relevance is at the heart of this curatorial vision. “It’s about honoring richness and variety—showcasing work from different countries, communities, and perspectives, and highlighting a range of design approaches and voices, especially those that are often overlooked. I curate with an eye on universal themes such as sustainability, social impact, and cultural identity, enabling each local story to resonate globally. This way, the platform becomes a mosaic of the Middle East while engaging meaningfully with the broader architectural conversation, forming a bridge between our region and the wider world.

“Regionally, it brings together a community of architects and thinkers to exchange ideas across borders. Globally, it offers fresh perspectives from a part of the world often talked about but rarely heard directly. By sharing our stories and solutions—from adapting to extreme climates to reinterpreting ancient building traditions—we can enrich the global dialogue and contribute to the story of architecture.”

As founding partner of Arabian-Architects.com, JUNG brings a unique perspective shaped by decades of collaboration with architects worldwide. “We established JUNG Gulf as our regional office eight years ago and we want to strengthen our support to the market by building a stronger relationship with the entire design community,” says Mohammad Hattab, General Manager of JUNG Gulf.

“As a partner, we are pleased to be supporting Spotlight Arabia and some 50 architects and designers, enabling them to present themselves and their work on a prestigious platform—heightening their profile and their contribution to regional growth and development. This partnership will give us the opportunity to better connect to architects and designers, whether with big or small studios.”

“Arabian-Architects.com will be a community that will create positive impact. Not just commercially driven, it will be a platform from which to spread knowledge and experience. Innovation and sustainability are at the core of everything we do,” he adds. “As a technology-driven company, we see the architect’s role as essential in translating these ideas into human experiences.”

While JUNG organizes the high-quality Architectural Talks podcast in Europe, Hattab also believes in the power of connectivity and communication within the sector. “We look forward to engaging with the whole community, possibly organizing events, workshops and platforms where architects and students can meet in person and share experiences.” Contact with students in a region like this, where manufacturing is limited, will allow them to interact with a manufacturer like JUNG and learn more about the intricacies behind product development and how professionals use the products and systems.

The German firm founded in 1912 prides itself on longstanding relationships with architects, such as exclusively producing the iconic light switch LS 990 in Les Couleurs® Le Corbusier® that is still available in all 63 shades of the Le Corbusier color palette. “Designed by architects for architects, our products are naturally aligned,” Hattab says, adding, “They combine attractive aesthetics and technology, which makes them appealing to architects and designers. Innovation and sustainability are at the core of everything we do. As a technology-driven company, we see the architect’s role as essential in translating these ideas into human experiences.”

“While we have a wealth of exciting projects in the region, we need to also heighten the profile of the designers, engineers, and consultants behind them. A number of international firms have set up offices—even HQs—here, and increasing numbers of architects, designers, and studios like Dewan Architects + Engineers, Kristina Zanic Consultants, Killa Design, T.ZED Architects, and many others who, having established successful local practices, are now winning international commissions. We also have a lot of young talented designers who need a platform to share their vision.”

As Arabian-Architects.com moves towards launch, those behind the initiative share a collective vision: to build a living archive of architectural progress in the region—and a bridge to the world.

Lemmens sees the platform evolving into both a legacy and a movement. “In five years, I see Arabian-Architects.com as a dynamic community and an evolving archive—a living record of the region’s architectural journey,” she says. “Its true legacy will be a shift in perception: for Middle Eastern architecture to be recognized not as a sidebar, but as a vital part of global design discourse.”

Hill shares that optimism, viewing the platform as a catalyst for connection. “Our hope is that Arabian-Architects.com will grow into a vital hub—a place where the region’s architectural energy can be seen, discussed, and connected to the wider global dialogue,” he says.

For Hattab, impact will be measured in collaboration and community. “I’d like to look back and see a platform that has genuinely elevated regional talent—one that’s inspired cooperation, supported education, and strengthened the ties between design and technology,” he notes.

Turri believes the project’s greatest achievement will be its power to connect. “Our goal is not only to document architecture, but to connect people—across generations and borders,” he says. “If Arabian-Architects.com helps redefine how the world perceives design from this region, it will have achieved its purpose.”

Together, their words frame a shared ambition to celebrate the region’s architectural richness while amplifying its voice on the global stage.