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YAAM Architects

Abdullah Tariq

Founder, Design Director – YAAM Architects

Abdullah is the Design Director of YAAM Architects, leading the studio’s creative vision across architecture, urban design, and placemaking. His work is driven by a passion for contextual storytelling, human-centered design, and creating meaningful spatial experiences across multiple scales. Combining analytical thinking with a strong visual and conceptual approach, he guides projects from strategic vision to design execution, ensuring each responds to its cultural, environmental, and social context.

With international academic and professional experience, Abdullah holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Politecnico di Milano, complemented by studies at TU Wien, BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, and Universiti Antarabangsa Malaysia. His multidisciplinary background informs YAAM’s research-led approach, integrating architecture, urbanism, data-driven analysis, and computational design to deliver innovative and enduring places.

“Each place deserves its own story, its own form, and its own identity — a one of one masterpiece shaped for the people who experience it”

Abdullah

About Abdullah

Key Role at YAAM

  1. • Design Director leading the studio’s creative direction across architecture, urban design, master planning, and placemaking.

  2. • Guides projects from concept generation and strategic vision through design development and visual communication.

  3. • Promotes a research-led and context-responsive approach that combines storytelling, data analysis, and computational design.

  4. • Supports multidisciplinary coordination, team development, and the delivery of high-quality design outcomes across different scales.

Notable Projects

  1. • NEOM Trojena, Saudi Arabia

  2. • Qiddiya Cultural Quarter, Riyadh

  3. • ROSHN Stadium Master Plan, Riyadh

  4. • PIF Paradise Master Planning, Riyadh

  5. • ARADA North Community, Riyadh

  6. • ROSHN Marafy, Jeddah

  7. • Emaar Dubai Creek Harbour, Dubai

  8. • Meydan Racecourse and Golf Estate Master Plans, Dubai

  9. • Al Badrah District, Dubai

  10. • Al Sila’a Farm Master Plan, Al Ain

  11. • Phuc Tho, Sen Phuong, and Saigon Master Plans, Vietnam

  12. • Basra City Centre Districts and Al Zubair Area 3, Iraq

  13. • Emaar Marassi Red Sea and SODIC developments, Egypt

Key Awards

  1. • 1st Place — Arar Downtown Concept Master Plan, Saudi Arabia

  2. • 1st Place — BIFF Building Façade Innovation Challenge, Switzerland

  3. • 3rd Place — Egyptian Venice Biennale Architecture Competition 2020

  4. • Top 5 Shortlist — Buraydah Downtown Concept Master Plan

  5. • Top 10 Shortlist — Tamayouz Rifat Chadirji Prize

  6. • Top 10 Shortlist — Tamayouz Dewan Award

  7. • Gold Mention — YAC Leisure Harbor Competition, Italy

  8. • Honorable Mention — eVolo 2019 Skyscraper Competition

  9. • Honorable Mention — Emaar Iconic Mosque at Dubai Creek Harbour

  10. • Honorable Mention — Al Minaaratain Neighbourhood Master Plan, Al Madinah

Previous

  1. • Woods Bagot — Senior Urban Strategy & Planning

  2. • Parsons Corporation — Senior Urban Designer / Architect

  3. • Dewan Architects + Engineers — Urban Designer / Architect

  4. • STO Foundation — Sustainable Design lead

  5. • Zone Architect — Concept Architect

  6. • Rawnaq — Designer and Visualizer

Qualifications

  1. • Master of Science in Building Architecture — Politecnico di Milano

  2. • Diploma in Green Building Solutions — TU Wien and BOKU University, Vienna

  3. • Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies — International Islamic University Malaysia

  4. • International academic experience across Italy, Austria, and Malaysia

  5. • Professional expertise in architectural design, urban design, master planning, concept development, data analysis, computational design, and visual communication

UCL
Polimi
TU Wien
Hilton
BCG
Saudi Downtown
Oxford
Wafi
Skani
MOH

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