Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), one of the leading architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban planning firms in the world, has announced the official opening of its new office in Dubai, a move that strengthens the firm’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, the office will serve as a regional hub to provide a full range of architecture, design, and planning services.

Thomas Behr, SOM Firmwide Mena managing partner, will oversee the region, while Uwe Nienstedt, SOM senior regional manager, will lead the office operations in Dubai, said a statement.

“Our new office allows SOM to build upon decades of experience in the Middle East. By establishing a formal presence in Dubai—an important business center for the region—we are better equipped to serve our local clients, to work with consultants and officials, and to further develop our design and technical expertise specific to the region,” Behr said.

The new Dubai office positions SOM to oversee current Mena projects with additional staff and to generate new project proposal deliverables. In addition to business development and project management capabilities, the office will provide urban planning services through SOM’s City Design Practice.

Having worked in the Middle East for nearly 60 years, SOM has planned, designed and built more than 180 projects in the region, some of which are among the most iconic and consequential developments in the region, it said. These include the master plan for King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia; the master plan for Bahrain Bay in Manama, Bahrain; Four Seasons Hotel in Manama, Bahrain; Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait City, Kuwait; and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the world’s tallest building.

Recent and ongoing Mena projects include the King Abdul Aziz Boulevard Hotels and Serviced Apartments in Makkah; Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority in Riyadh; Kuwait University student activities and athletics facilities in Shadadiya, Kuwait; Kuwait University administration facilities in Shadadiya, Kuwait; and Mashreq Bank headquarters in Dubai. - TradeArabia News Service