Meet the AD100 2026 Debuts. A diverse group of designers and studios joining the list this year. Their work consists of everything from interiors and architecture to craft, technology and collectible design. Whether based in Dubai, Tunis, Cairo, Kuwait, Paris or New York, each brings a distinct point of view.
Alamira Noor Bani Hashim
Dubai interior designer Bani Hashim creates spaces that exude luxury and comfort. She’s known for her impactful yet minimalist style, as seen at Studio Julie Lemke, the colour-drenched beauty studio she recently completed in Dubai. Often found designing homes for celebrities and artists - such as a new Abu Dhabi residence filled entirely with bespoke pieces – she’s also exploring the idea of a furniture line. What excites her most? “Exploring new materials and new ways to use them.” United Arab Emirates; @anbh.interiors
BEIT Collective
Founded in 2021, BEIT Collective started out as a regional craft platform and has evolved into a global design studio, dedicated to reinventing Middle Eastern craftsmanship through limited-edition collections. It controls all stages of production, allowing traditional techniques to be preserved while creating space for experimentation. Collaborations with international designers – including Adam Nathaniel Furman, whose Nour chair reimagines Lebanese cane weaving – enhance its appeal. “Our collections are cultural ambassadors that connect global audiences with Lebanese heritage,” says founder Emilie Skaff. Lebanon; beit-collective.com
Breath Design
Led by Riccardo Robustini and Lorenzo Capucci, Breath Design is based between Dubai and Bologna. Its work fuses tradition and technological innovation, with strong emphasis on craft and sustainability. Recent successes include an apartment in Foster + Partners’ Index Tower in Dubai: it enhances panoramic city views with smooth, luminous surfaces crafted by local and global artisans. The Inhuman installation at Milan Design Week debuted the studio’s Native furniture collection in Cipollino marble. “Our philosophy seeks to design spaces not only to be lived in, but felt,” the designers say. Dubai, Italy; breath.design
Chacha Atallah
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Working at the intersection of architecture, interior design, objects and curation, Tunisian architect Chacha Atallah is what you’d call a true multidisciplinarian. Having recently completed the Selma Ferriani gallery in Tunis, which used indigenous building techniques and materials, and launched her design gallery Bardo Collections, Atallah is currently renovating a striking 19th-century residence in the heart of the medina of Tunis, which will give pride of place to Tunisian and African artists, and working on the redevelopment of the landscaped park of Carthage. Tunisia, France; chachaatallah.com
Hozan Zangana
Born in Iraq and now working in the Netherlands, Hozan Zangana’s furniture and objects sit at the intersection between art and craft. Each piece is a “vessel of memory”, inspired by ancient ornaments, calligraphy and rituals. Zangana’s designs, he says, are “a reminder that objects can hold ambiguity, invite reflection and open us to connection”, and are often collaborations with specialist artisans: think Japanese lacquer artists (the Tenyayî Urushi jug), woodturners (the Qalat Hunebench), and bronze makers (the Kisal Al Zubarah stool). Every piece has a sculptural presence. The Netherlands; hozanzangana.com
IDST
Founded by Hana Akram in 2020 with a mission to “slow the pace of design”, Dubai studio IDST brings together fine art and interiors, reflecting Akram’s background in those fields. Material-rich retail and dining experiences are a speciality: Press Café in Dubai, for example, is adorned with timber and tilework, while Slice 45 pizzeria in Abu Dhabi combines zelliges, terrazzo and red glass. Akram is working on a mountaintop bar in Khor Fakkan, where the counter is carved out of the existing raw rock. United Arab Emirates; idst.ae
Mohamed Fares
Egyptian designer Mohamed Fares takes a free-spirited approach to creativity: an eyewear line and film and photography projects are all part of his remit, alongside architectural achievements like the Sachi Massi Marina restaurant on Egypt’s north coast, whose boat-inspired silhouette brings to mind “billowing sails and nautical elegance” and the renovation of Villa Magenta in Cairo. This year, Fares has also designed the Mangrove White Dwelling in Gouna on the Red Sea, whose pristine white architecture is contrasted with blue and green hues that reflect the lush surrounding landscape. Egypt; m-fares.com
Nicholas Obeid
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Syrian-American designer Nicholas Obeid is the founder of his eponymous New York–based studio. Trained in product design, Obeid creates interiors and furniture defined by light, geometry, and a quiet sense of balance. His projects range from elegant city apartments to a new wellness spa in Greenwich, each revealing a meticulous yet soulful aesthetic. Alongside interiors, his expanding furniture and lighting collections showcase American craftsmanship and the strength of a single, considered gesture. United States, nicholasobeid.com
See the Full AD100 2026 Honourees List
Riyad Joucka
Architect Riyad Joucka and his experimental practice MEAN* (Middle East Architecture Network) are reimagining how technology and culture intersect. Established in 2016, the Dubai-based studio works across architecture, research, and fabrication, producing modular systems and adaptive spaces that respond to environment and place. Recent works include Send Location in Dubai, Repeat Pilates in Barcelona, and Lamella in Neom – a 3D-printed canopy system that generates shade while harnessing solar power. “For us,” Joucka notes, “architecture is not a service, but a way to test ideas about how we live and build.” United Arab Emirates; m-e-a-n.design
Roham Shamekh
Describing himself as a “crossover artist-designer”, Dubai-based Roham Shamekh breaks boundaries, often using AI language models “to reinterpret creativity through a lens that blends heritage with innovation”. His free-spirited philosophy has won fans, including gallerist Leila Heller and musician Pharrell (plus another global pop star with whom he’s currently working on a top-secret project - watch this space). Shamekh has adopted the artichoke flower as his personal symbol of transformation, as seen on his Earth Monsters candelabra and new Self Love seating. United Arab Emirates; rohamshamekh.com
Sandra Benhamou
Resident in Paris but possessing Italian and Tunisian heritage, Sandra Benhamou designs individual interiors that blend vintage finds, custom furniture and unusual artworks. This year has seen the launch of her Tellus Mater rug collection for Édition 1.6.9, inspired by regions that she loves, and solo exhibitions with The Invisible Collection – one inspired by Wong Kar-Wai movies, another by the 1970s. She’s juggled these with residential projects in Paris and Normandy. “I love translating cinematic moods and musical references into spatial narratives,” she says. “It’s about creating atmospheres that move people.” France; sandrabenhamou.com
shell+core
Based in Abu Dhabi, this studio founded by Jade Daniel and Ghalia Korban is causing a stir with its spaces that are “people-focused, locally inspired and constantly evolving”. Cafes and retail stores are at the core of its practice: it has just completed Abu Dhabi café-restaurant ZOI, whose industrial-chic interior features layered block walls and exposed concrete. The duo is also responsible for the robust look of ETHR Clubhaus in Abu Dhabi, and for the city’s Super Classic bakery, a playful concept that explores colour and texture. United Arab Emirates; @shellandcore.uae
Shewekar
Shewekar Elgharably’s Cairo studio creates furniture, homewares and interiors, balancing craft and heritage with modernity. It's new Gezirah penthouse project, set in a 1950s Cairo building, showcases its flair for materiality: the outstanding feature is a breathtaking custom staircase in carved wood. The client’s collection of artworks and collectible design was blended with contemporary pieces to create a “rich, eclectic aesthetic”. Elgharably also contributes to Cairo’s design future by mentoring university students on sustainability in interiors. Egypt; shewekar.com
Studio Nama
Sarah Alhomaidah and Duia Abushanab founded Studio Nama in 2021 with the aim of bringing a fresh perspective to Kuwait’s architecture scene: the name “Nama” is derived from the Arabic word for growth, reflecting their mission to create spaces that evolve meaningfully over time. They take a holistic approach, embracing architecture, interiors and landscape design, and have recently graduated from residential to commercial spaces with their Matchbox restaurant in JACC, Kuwait City. Its eclectic interior is inspired by Persian cuisine. Kuwait; studionama.com
Studio Saffar
Product designer Kawther Alsaffar’s studio is named for the Arabic word “saffar”, which means “tinker” or “good copper”, echoing her family’s tradition of copper sinking. The reference is mirrored in her robust yet elegant metalware. “My sand-cast artworks are rooted in traditional craftsmanship, and challenge the generic definition of luxury,” she says. In the past year, bespoke commissions have included a three-metre dining table with a 450kg bronze base, and wall art in walnut and brass. Coming next is a lighting collection with Fabraca Studios. Kuwait; studiosaffar.com
Syn Architects
This Riyadh practice, led by Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, champions ecologically responsible design with a keen awareness of nature, materiality and adaptive re-use. All three are prominently on view in their Shamalat Cultural Center in Diriyah, Riyadh, a transformation of an old mud house into a vibrant cultural hub housing a gallery, artist residency and workshop space. Riyadh stone, laid in a minimalist style on top of the old structure, gives it a playful yet sensitive character. Saudi Arabia; syn.sa
Tarek Dada
Interior architect Tarek Dada has style in his blood – he’s the son of renowned designer Nabil Dada, but has honed his own signature look, which is bold, sleek and resolutely modern. He’s passionate about art and custom commissions. “Our work extends beyond interiors, as we guide clients in shaping their own collections,” he says. “The projects we have been working on reflect this - discovering designers who are yet to be found, and creating spaces where their work can exist harmoniously.” Currently working on multiple global residences, he’s planning a furniture line for 2026. Lebanon, Spain; @tarekdada
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