Over the past 25 years, DSA Architects Middle East has significantly shaped the built environment across the MENA region. Through consistent investment in design technology, responsible innovation, talent, and cultural awareness, the firm continues to evolve in step with the region’s transformation.
DSA’s commitment to innovation involves embracing technology, staying responsive to change, and doing things better. When Studio Design Director Gareth Cain joined DSA in 2023, he introduced DSA Hubs, eight communities dedicated to the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and research.
These hubs focus on key areas of practice, including adopting new tools that support creativity and governance, exploring sustainable technologies and materials, and developing DSA’s ESG goals.
DSA has long been a pioneer in design technology, having fully adopted Building Information Modelling across all projects as early as 2009. More recently, the firm developed D.A.R.I.A., the DSA Architect of Record Intelligent Assistant. Built in-house, DARIA helps project teams remain aligned with evolving codes and regulations, supporting accuracy and accountability.
Generative design and automation tools also streamline early-stage development and rendering, improving efficiency and design precision across the company.
Beyond technology, DSA continues to expand its regional footprint, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where it is proud to contribute to giga projects in collaboration with PIF entities and international design architects as part of Vision 2030. The strength of DSA’s partnerships and client relationships reflects its collaborative and quality-driven approach.
Gareth shares, “A technology can only be constructive in a creative process once it has become a tool we can master and control. That’s where we focus our attention at DSA, so we don’t let seductive new technologies bypass the process.
Suddenly, we can give a client 20 options with virtually no effort, but to what purpose – there is no conviction. Why would someone pay for such a service when so much choice only puts the creative decision back on them? We want to build on traditional design processes to create new AI-enhanced workflows.”
Today, DSA’s focus is clear: to keep improving and delivering architecture that makes a difference in design and in the way people experience the spaces it creates.
