Category: insights

  The idea that city residents should have access to daily necessities within a 15-minute walk recalls ancient cities in the Middle East and beyond. Today, planners are seeking to combine walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods with high-tech forms of urban mobility. The result could be more sustainable, livable, and contextually appropriate cities.   What if…

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  After years of prioritizing cars, Riyadh adopted a more balanced transportation strategy. The central element of this sustainable approach is the newly established Riyadh Metro, which includes a significant, multi-modal station designed by Omrania.   Urban mobility has become a central issue in Riyadh. The Saudi capital city’s explosive growth from 150,000 inhabitants in…

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. Cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence are part of the Saudi National Industrial Strategy that is driving innovation in the Kingdom. Architecture, engineering and construction are among the many industries that will be affected by emerging technologies.   Since we published an article last year on how robotic construction is becoming reality in the Middle…

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. Emerging AI tools combined with sensor networks are the backbone of ‘smart’ buildings. These rapidly advancing technologies enable building owners and operators to harness real-time and predictive data to enhance occupant comfort, improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and streamline maintenance. Here’s why smart building technologies are becoming crucial to development in the Middle East.…

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. It’s not just the tallest building in Riyadh. The PIF Tower is also a complex feat of urban planning, design and engineering that extends both below and above ground. Designed by a joint venture of Omrania and HOK, the tower provides world-class office space and amenities at the heart of the King Abdullah Financial…

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. With shaded facades and daylit atria, the SEC Headquarters campus designed by Omrania welcomes employees to a state-of-the-art corporate facility that exemplifies the fusion of high-performance design and engineering with an emphasis on occupant health and wellness.   High-tech on the outside. Comfortable on the inside. Sustainable through and through. Welcome to the Saudi…

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. Omrania’s award-winning design for KAFD Grand Mosque in Riyadh emerged in response to the surrounding urban fabric. Conceived as a 21st-century landmark —and the spiritual heart of the King Abdullah Financial District — the mosque offers a unified architectural experience from exterior to interior.   Mosques are well understood as spiritual spaces, but they…

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. Unlike traditional glass and metal facades, the high-performance envelope of the PIF Tower in Riyadh is designed specifically for the hot, sunny climate. The building’s carefully crafted, multi-layered enclosure system includes built-in shading and maintenance infrastructure that complements its geometric form. The 385-meter tower represents a successful fusion of functional and aesthetic criteria—and a…

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. The world is getting hotter, but air conditioning uses too much energy and emits too much carbon to be sustainable. What’s the future of a technology that we can’t live without, but also can’t afford to keep using? While innovators across the globe are attempting to develop alternative air conditioning systems like radiative cooling,…

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. More than just a point for coming and going, an urban transit hub can elevate commuters’ daily experience and add value to surrounding neighborhoods. That’s why Omrania designed the Western Station of the Riyadh Metro with welcoming, expansive, and sustainable interiors. The station connects multiple modes of transit and provides maximum accessibility and convenience.…

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. Now firmly established as one of the finest contemporary hospitality and residential apartment developments in the Saudi capital, the Hilton Riyadh shows the value of architecture and interior design as an essential ingredient to success.   When Omrania was commissioned to design the Hilton Riyadh, the client presented their vision for a world-class address,…

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. A documentary by KSA’s Ministry of Culture reveals insights on the design of the award-winning Tuwaiq Palace, featuring an exclusive interview with Basem Al-Shihabi, Chairman of Omrania’s Board of Directors.   In a 10-minute documentary produced by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, Omrania founder and Chairman Basem Al-Shihabi discusses the genesis of the…

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