Building Tomorrow's Skylines
14 – 15 October 2026 | Dusit Thani, Dubai, UAE
Days
Hours
Minutes
Building Tomorrow's Skylines: Innovation, Sustainability, and Resilience in Modern Architecture
The Modern Buildings Summit in GCC is the premier conference for professionals, innovators, and decision-makers in the building and construction industry. This event brings together leaders to discuss cutting-edge technologies, sustainable practices, and emerging trends that are reshaping the modern building landscape. From advanced construction techniques to smart lighting, robust security, and innovative materials, the summit covers every facet of contemporary buildings, fostering collaboration and innovation.
2025 Series
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Sponsors & Partners
Sustainable Sponsor
Water Sustainability Partner
Exhibitor
Networking Partner
Supporting Sponsor
Key Project Intelligence Partner
Supporting Partner
Media Partner
Chairman & Advisory
Coming soon!
Dragana Linden
Executive Board Member - Alliance Investment Holding Group
Speakers
Faisal Rashid
Senior Director - Demand Side Management
Supreme Council of Energy
Salman Moledina
Regional Sales Manager
SKM Air Conditioning
Kingson Jebaraj
General Manager
Innovative Water & Energy
Tanishk Sajnani
Founder & CEO
Terracore
Haitham Mokhtar
Founder & Managing Director
Clear Axis Project Management Services
Anastasios Dimas
Regional Design Technology Director
AtkinsRéalis
Sanaz Sheikhi
Senior Digital Delivery Manager
Egis
Amil Alhasan
Associate – ME Architecture Leader
Arup
Marwan Houry
Principal, Vice President of Strategy
ae7
Mahmoud Shahin
Design Group Director
P&T Group
Marcos Rosello
Founder of aLL Design & Creative Director of LWK+P
Yazan Khalidi
Chief Commercial Director
Mered
Nazar Aitiev
Director of Engineering
Grand Hyatt
Ahmed Yousif
Lead BIM Manager - Head of Digital Delivery
Hill International
Shaique Uddin
Lead Automation Engineer
AtkinsRéalis
Benjamin Piper
Architectural Design Director
Integrity Design Consultancy
Ahmed Raafat
Head of Procurement and Supply Chain
A.R.M Holding
Ghina Yamak
Associate Façade Consultant
Zutari
Johannes Hoffmann
Director
ZHA
Riccardo Carugo
Senior Associate Facade Consultant
AESG
Niveth Kumar
Principal Façade Engineer
AESG
Dr. Bhakti More
Dean, School of Design & Architecture
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai
Anne Mathew
Senior Associate – Sustainability Planning Lead
AECOM
Asban Pious
Senior Environmental Manager
Surbana Consultants Pte Ltd
Anamaria Castillo
Landscape Strategies Director
KALQ Studio
Nandan Tavkar
Senior Associate Director
Jacobs
Conference Agenda
DAY 01
14th October
08:00
Registration & Morning refreshments
09:30
Opening by Conference Director
09:40
Opening Keynote: The Policy Blueprint: Driving Dubai toward Net Zero Buildings
Faisal Rashid
Senior Director - Demand Side Management, Supreme Council of Energy
10:00
Adaptive Reuse for the Next Generation of Cities
Marcos Rosello
Founder of aLL Design & Creative Director of LWK+P
10:20
Practical HVAC Retrofit Strategies Across Facilities
Salman Moledina
Regional Sales Manager, SKM Air Conditioning
10:40
Panel Discussion: Hyper-Connected Buildings – The Rise of Autonomous & Cognitive Infrastructure
This discussion will explore how cognitive infrastructure is transforming operations, energy management, occupant experience, and urban connectivity.
- Role of AI and IoT in autonomous building management
- Integration challenges between smart systems and legacy infrastructure
- Future of connected ecosystems in smart cities
MODERATOR
Ahmed Raafat
Head of Procurement and Supply Chain, A.R.M Holding
PANELISTS
Sanaz Sheikhi
Senior Digital Delivery Manager, Egis
Yazan Khalidi
Chief Commercial Director, Mered
Ahmed Yousif
Lead BIM Managers – Head of Digital Delivery, Hill International
11:20
Networking & Coffee Break
12:10
Retrofitting the GCC – Modernizing Existing Buildings for a Net-Zero Future
With sustainability targets accelerating across the GCC, retrofitting has become essential for improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and extending building lifecycles.
Amil Alhasan
Associate – ME Architecture Leader, Arup
12:30
Sustainability Goals in Water Segment
- Grey Water Reuse / TSE Water Reuse
- Effective & Non-hazardous Water Disinfection
Kingson Jebaraj
General Manager, Innovative Water & Energy Technologies
12:50
Networking & Coffee Break
13:30
How you change Failure from a Liability to an Asset: Get your best return on Failure.
Marwan Houry
Principal, Vice President of Strategy, ae7
13:50
The Social Life of Modern Buildings
This session will explore how new and existing buildings can be designed around the needs and experiences of their users. It will examine how thoughtful spaces, amenities, and community-focused design can enhance wellbeing, create destinations, and ultimately increase long-term property value.
Anamaria Castillo
Landscape Strategies Director, KALQ Studio
14:10
Closure of the Conference
14:20
Networking & Lunch Buffet
DAY 02
15th October
08:00
Registration and morning refreshments
09:20
Opening by Conference Director
09:30
Opening Keynote: Sustainable Infrastructure and Building Designs towards Dubai 2040 and UAE Net Zero 2050 visions
Nandan Tavkar
Senior Associate Director, Jacobs
09:50
How to Avoid and Resolve Construction Dispute Using Mediation and Applying the Governmental Laws and Decrees of Mediation
Haitham Mokhtar
Founder & Managing Director, Clear Axis Project Management Services
10:10
From Smart Buildings to Intelligent Architecture: Keeping the Human at the Centre of AI-Driven Design
Benjamin Piper
Architectural Design Director, Integrity Design Consultancy
10:30
Panel Discussion: Can Buildings Become Carbon-Positive Assets?
- Economics of regenerative construction.
- GCC readiness for next-generation materials.
- Investment opportunities and policy support.
MODERATOR
Anne Mathew
Senior Associate - Sustainability Planning Lead, AECOM
PANELISTS
Ahmed Raafat
Head of Procurement and Supply Chain, A.R.M Holding
Ghina Yamak
Associate Façade Consultant, Zutari
Tanishk Sajnani
Founder & CEO, Terracore
Asban Pious
Senior Environmental Manager, SJ Group
11:10
Networking & Coffee Break
12:00
AI-Powered Construction Planning & Predictive Project Intelligence
Discover how AI-driven platforms are improving project planning, risk forecasting, scheduling accuracy, and cost optimization while reducing delays and operational inefficiencies in large-scale developments.
Anastasios Dimas
Regional Design Technology Director, AtkinsRéalis
Shaique Uddin
Lead Automation Engineer, AtkinsRéalis
12:20
Designing for Wellbeing and sustainable futures of our communities
Mahmoud will explore how walkability, landscape and wellbeing can shape sustainable masterplans from the outset. Drawing on P&T projects, the session will examine how planning decisions connect environmental performance with everyday life, creating places where people can move comfortably, spend time outdoors and connect with their communities.
Mahmoud Shahin
Design Group Director, P&T Group
12:40
Future-Proofing Assets Against Climate Extremes
Explore how to Design resilient buildings for heat stress, flooding and climate adaptation.
Johannes Hoffmann
Director, ZHA
13.00
Networking & Coffee Break
13:30
Operational Readiness & Asset Management in Modern Buildings
Nazar Aitiev
Director of Engineering, Grand Hyatt
13:50
Should We Build It? When Complexity Adds Value to Façade Design
Riccardo Carugo
Senior Associate – Facades, AESG
Niveth Kumar
Principal Façade Engineer, AESG
14:10
Closing of the Conference
14:20
Networking & Lunch Buffet
10:30 -
Panel Discussion : Hyper-Connected Buildings – The Rise of Autonomous & Cognitive Infrastructure
This discussion will explore how cognitive infrastructure is transforming operations, energy management, occupant experience, and urban connectivity.Role of AI and IoT in autonomous building managementIntegration challenges between smart systems and legacy infrastructureFuture of connected ecosystems in smart cities
11:10 -
Networking & Coffee Break
12:00 -
Retrofitting the GCC – Modernizing Existing Buildings for a Net-Zero Future
With sustainability targets accelerating across the GCC, retrofitting has become essential for improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and extending building lifecycles.
13:00 -
Networking & Coffee Break
13:50 -
Bio-Based Construction for Urban Developments
Using engineered timber, algae systems and bio-materials in large-scale projects.
14:10 -
Future-Proofing Airports, Hospitals & Public Infrastructure
Critical infrastructure projects are adopting smart technologies, resilience planning, and flexible designs to support future population growth and operational demands.
14:50 -
End of Event
09:30 -
Opening Keynote : Digital Asset Ownership and Tokenized Real Estate
How blockchain-enabled ownership models are changing development and asset management.
10:10 -
Sustainability Goals in Water Segment
Grey Water Reuse / TSE Water ReuseEffective & Non-hazardous Water Disinfection
10:30 -
Panel Discussion : Can Buildings Become Carbon-Positive Assets?
Economics of regenerative construction.GCC readiness for next-generation materials.Investment opportunities and policy support.
11:10 -
Networking & Coffee Break
12:00 -
AI-Powered Construction Planning & Predictive Project Intelligence
Discover how AI-driven platforms are improving project planning, risk forecasting, scheduling accuracy, and cost optimization while reducing delays and operational inefficiencies in large-scale developments.
13:00 -
Networking & Coffee Break
14:10 -
4D Printing and Adaptive Building Components
Materials capable of changing shape and performance in response to environmental conditions.
14:50 -
End of Event
Who Will You Meet?
Hotel Chains
Developers
Sustainability Officers
Hospital Chains
Consultants
MEP Contractors
Building Owners/End Users
Local & Regional Government Entities
Facility/Community Management Companies
Architects, Designers, Engineering Contractors
Property Owners/Operators
Fire Consultants, Surveyors
Chief Fire Officers
Solar Consultants
Procurement Engineers
Owner Associations
Key Themes
Sustainability and Green Buildings
Smart Building Technologies
Retrofitting and Modernization
Solar Technology Showcase
EV Charging Infrastructure & Parking
Building Security and Controls
Innovations in Building Materials
HVAC and Building Efficiency
Sustainable Paints
Proptech Powerhouse
Lighting Technologies
Facade Technologies
Landscape Design and Technology
Digital Twins and Building Optimization
Who Should Exhibit / Sponsor
Fire and Life Safety
Lighting Solutions
Solar Technology
Proptech
Smart Building Automation and Control
Net Zero Technologies & EV Charging
Digital Twins and Building Optimization
HVAC and Building Efficiency
Building Retrofits
