Total prize
500,000 €
2,000,000 AED

The power of small-scale architecture
What truly gives a city its identity? Is it the towering skyline, or the spaces where people pause, gather, and connect? Cities are not merely built; they are felt — experienced in the subtle details that shape daily life. It’s in the rhythm of pathways, the shade of a structure, the curve of a bridge, and the quiet moments of interaction that the essence of a city unfolds. These small-scale architectural forms, often overlooked, are the threads that weave together the vast urban fabric — giving depth, meaning, and identity to the places we inhabit.
While grand landmarks may define a skyline, it’s the human-scale elements that shape how we move, how we connect, and how we remember a place. These forms guide footsteps, foster community, and craft the everyday narratives that give a city its soul.
Dubai:
city in constant transformation
A competition to shape the city
Seven zones



A call for visionary design
Pre-registration: Free. Join now!
Brief
The full competition brief can be downloaded as often as required; no additional information will be provided after registration.
Full Competition Brief






- Site Photographs
- Appendix Urban Vision
Meet your jury
Sirine Kalache, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority
Varkki George Pallathucheril, American University of Sharjah
Shaikha AlShaikh, Roads & Transport Authority
Salma Al Shamsi, RTA Dubai
Sirine Kalache is a seasoned Urban Planner and Project Manager with over 20 years of experience across the UAE, Lebanon, and Canada. Currently a Chief Specialist at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, she leads sustainable urban and mobility initiatives. With a Master’s in Planning from the University of Toronto and a background in architecture, Sirine has delivered major projects like the Desert Rose Smart City and Business Bay Peninsula. She is fluent in Arabic, English, and French, and is passionate about people-centric and sustainable urban design.
Varkki George Pallathucheril is a distinguished academic and urban planning expert with over three decades of experience in teaching, research, and professional practice. He currently serves as Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah, where he has led numerous academic and planning initiatives since 2007. Holding a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University, Dr. Pallathucheril has held prominent academic positions at leading institutions, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research spans urban design methods, planning support systems, and spatial analysis, with extensive publications in renowned journals. He has also directed large-scale funded research and consulting projects in the U.S. and UAE, contributing significantly to regional planning, smart cities, and educational innovation.
Shaikha AlShaikh is a civil engineer with more than 10 years of experience in the Government and Private Sector in Project Design & Construction Management for Mega Projects. She oversaw project planning, feasibility, budgeting and nancing for projects worth AED 30 Billion. She's a PhD Candidate, and holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management. She started her career in consultancy, working on diverse water and infrastructure projects that range from master planning to detailed design and execution in the UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Mauritius and Libya as a civil engineer and project manager. She now works in the Roads & Transport Authority, and manages numerous teams driving key strategic projects to enhance the quality of life in the Emirate of Dubai.
Salma Al Shamsi is an accomplished Emirati architect and urban strategist with over 18 years of experience in public sector infrastructure and landscape development. She currently serves as the Roads Landscaping Manager at RTA Dubai, where she leads high-profile urban and road beautification projects, including the Infinity Bridge and Dubai Water Canal. Salma holds a Master’s degree in City Science from RIT Dubai and a Bachelor’s in Architectural Engineering from UAE University. A certified project manager and organizational leader, she is a board member of the UAE CSR Association and an active contributor to various urban and heritage planning societies. Her work is grounded in strategic planning, quality management, and urban transformation.
Jury members shall under no circumstances be contacted by competition participants or their representatives. Participants who attempt to contact jury members, shall be disqualified.
All jury members are involved in the evaluation based on their availability at that time. All communication regarding the competition should only be carried out with Buildner staff. For any questions please contact us on [email protected]
Prizes
500,000 €
2,000,000 AED250,000 €
1,000,000 AED140,000 €
560,000 AED50,000 €
200,000 AED10,000 € each
40,000 AED X 6Publicity campaign
Buildner's publicity campaign offers extensive exposure to the architectural community, ensuring that the results of the competition are seen by a vast audience:
Buildner's two million
The results are published on buildner.com, a leading website in the architecture industry, attracting over one million unique visitors annually. Additionally, the campaign extends to Buildner's social networks, which boast over 800,000 followers combined, and through newsletter campaigns reaching over 200,000 subscribers.
Interview and movie
Winners will have the opportunity to submit a movie and an interview, boosting their recognizability and helping to build their name in the industry.
Extensive media network
Buildner leverages an extensive network of media industry leaders to publish the competition results. This broadens the audience further, ensuring that participants' work is showcased across multiple platforms known for their influence and reach in the architecture and design sectors.
Publicity
ArchDaily feature
As part of the collaboration between Buildner and ArchDaily, the competition winners will be showcased on ArchDaily, a leading architecture news platform.
This feature will greatly boost the winners' visibility to millions of architecture professionals and enthusiasts worldwide, increasing their chances for new opportunities, attracting new clients, and establishing their reputation in the industry.
Read more about Buildner and ArchDaily partnershipEligibility
This international competition is open to architects, artists, and creatives from all backgrounds. Whether you are an emerging talent, an established professional, or exploring a bold new idea, your vision is welcome. All submissions must be completed in English to ensure fair evaluation.Key dates
Send reminders7 May 2025
12 May 2025
In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants.
No new questions will be answered after this deadline.
28 May 2025
1 July 2025
12 May 2025
In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants.
No new questions will be answered after this deadline.