214th Edition – Zak World of Façades UAE

This will be the 214th edition globally and the 11th edition in UAE which will showcase sustainable innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope and will also display latest technological solutions.

Official Page
Share This Event
Speakers & Panelists
Amir Shurafa
Head of Design, Ai certified expert, Danube Properties
With over ten years of experience in interior design, project management, and emerging technologies, I am the Head of Interior Design at Danube Properties, a leading real estate developer in the region. I lead the design and innovation team to...
Ian Inglis
Senior Project Manager, Werner Sobek Dubai
Highly effective operations executive with over 30 years of demonstrated history working in the consulting and construction industry. Experienced in overseeing Design Management, Project Management and Construction Management on high-profile projects with a professional and skilled command of Master Planning,...
Gary White
VP Masterplanning & Design, Expo City Dubai
Drew Gilbert
Lead Design Architect & Global AI Lead, OBM International
Drew Gilbert is an award-winning Architect, Urban Designer, and Futurist. Gilbert’s work is defined by his integration of technology and design, a deep respect for site, climate, and cultural context, and his ability to craft solutions that are both timeless...
Gustav Neupert
Product Manager - Aluminium (Non EU Markets), profine Group
Gustav Neupert is a Mechanical Engineer and Facade Specialist with 30+ years of experience in system design and project management. After contributing to landmark German projects like the Vereinte Versicherung in Munich, Gustav joined the profine Group in 2004, where...
Prathush Sreedharan
Specification Leader - Middle East, Axalta Coating Systems
I’ve spent more than 10 years leading marketing and specification efforts within the industrial materials and construction sectors across Middle East. My approach is rooted in my civil engineering background and a genuine passion for the intersection of material science...
Hussam Bassem
Business/Technical Manager – Façade & Insulation Systems, Styro Insulation
Eng. Hussam is an experienced façade engineering specialist with a strong background in thermal insulation systems, building physics, and high-performance building envelope design across the UAE construction sector. Over the past decade, he has supported major consultants, contractors, and developers...
Damon Pooley
Group Sales Director, Guthrie Douglas
Having trained and qualified as a Mechanical Engineer, Damon moved into the world of construction in 1998 joining the design office of a leading solar shading contractor where he worked on a number of challenging projects, all the while gaining...
Alejandro Garcia Gadea
Lead Principal Architect, Atkins Réalis
Alejandro is a Lead Principal Architect at AtkinsRealis, specializing in the design and development of landmark projects in the Middle East. Currently focused on the Mukaab, the world’s largest building set for completion in 2030, his design approach integrates innovation and...
Yu Si
Team Leader & Department Design Director, gad Architects
Yu Si is a Team Leader and Department Design Director at gad. Known for his rigorous approach to design realization and spatial storytelling, Yu Si excels at navigating the complexities of diverse architectural typologies. His philosophy anchors on “Constructed Narrative,”...
Tan Cai
Partner & Design Director, gad Architects
Tan Cai is a Senior Partner and Design Director at gad, and a RIBA Chartered Architect. With a portfolio bridging serene cultural resorts and iconic supertall skyscrapers, As a core design leader at gad, Tan Cai possesses a visionary global...
Tony Abi Gebrayel
Managing Partner, MZ Architects
Tony Abi Gebrayel is a partner at MZ Architects. He is the Projects Director of MZ Architects LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and a chief contributor to the company’s design vision. He has been managing the company for 18 years and...
Celeste Gariando
Technical Director, Meinhardt Façade Technology
Celeste joined Meinhardt Façade Technology (MFT) – Dubai in 2008 and is now MFT’s Technical Director, bringing over 20 years of experience in façade engineering across the Middle East and Central Asia. She holds a Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering...
Fan Lee
Founder, Anometal Aluminum
Mr. Fan Lee is the founder of Anometal Aluminum Co., Ltd. who has profound expertise in the industry of pre-treated aluminium. Anometal masters the core technology of continuous anodising and has three automatic continuous pre-anodising lines nowadays. With 28 years’...
Maher Hasson
Director - Sales Operations AME, Guardian Glass
Maher is a motivated and enthusiastic Glass and Façade Passionate, a Leader with a wide experience in Management, Projects and Sales operations. 18 years with Guardian Glass during which, great wealth of experience and expertise gained, started in Guardian RAK...
Alina Valcarce
Founder | Design Director, Valcarce Architects
Alina is a visionary leader and Architect, serving as the founder and design director of Valcarce Architects. With an unwavering passion for innovative architectural forms and groundbreaking designs, Alina continuously pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the built...
Oliver Turner
Operations Manager, Climate Ready Engineering
Oliver first discovered his passion for unique and challenging projects in 2008 when he first joined the window shading industry as an installer. After graduating from university with a degree in project management, he delved into managing and successfully delivering...
Edward McIntosh
Regional Design Director (Middle East + Africa), Atkins Réalis
Ed McIntosh is a British-Ecuadorean architect.  He is a Fulbright Scholar and Graduate of Columbia University. Ed has more than 25 years of professional experience with a long standing trajectory in the design of sport & event venues, stadia, arenas...
Oliver Rohde
Managing Director, seele Middle East
Since graduating in civil engineering Oliver is involved in the execution of prestigious construction and façade projects mainly in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. For over 18 years in UAE, he gained an appropriate market experience and developed a...
Jason Quick
Senior Vice President, Projects Delivery, Expo City Dubai
Giovanni Zizioli
Partner | Middle East Director, Maffeis Engineering
Giovanni has honed his ability to lead complex multidisciplinary projects, coordinating efforts between structural, architectural and technical teams to deliver cohesive and high-quality solutions. As Partner and Middle East Director for Maffeis Engineering, he oversees engineering deliverables and timelines, ensuring...
Benjamin Beer
Managing Director, Werner Sobek Dubai
Benjamin has been working as a façade professional for 20 years with projects around the world and long-term positions in Stuttgart, London, New York and Dubai. After building up and heading the Dubai office of Werner Sobek in the position...
Conference Agenda
  • More than shelter: The historical importance of building façades as a cultural mediator between public and private space
  • Crafting narratives through the conception of the building envelope
  • Bringing vision’s to life, how the human sketch becomes standardized and detailed for construction through the use of parametric and AI Tools
Speakers:
  • Complex glass structures in 3D shape
Speakers:
  • Facilitating architectural ambitions: Balancing energy performance and design vision at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
  • Global expertise, local impact: Supporting high-performance façades and environmental certifications
  • From vision to specification: How digital tools help simplify glass selection for architectural projects
Speakers:
  • Wind, drift and accumulated movement: Façade behavior in a 750m tower (Burj Azzizi, Dubai)
  • Thermal expansion, geometry & interface movement: Façade engineering in a waterfront pavillion (AMAALA Triple Bay Yacht Club, Yanbu)
  • Designing for movement, not against it: Lessons from the tallest and the lowest
Speakers:
  • Insight on shading & shading automation control systems with a focus on comfort, intelligent design, energy efficiency and seamless integration
  • Case study of the curved façade shading solution at One Elizabeth Tower, Sydney; highlighting challenges related to complex geometry, glare mitigation, shading performance and live project outcomes
Speakers:
  • Immersive architecture through organic lines
  • Complexity of design & material selection
  • Future vision & solutions for immersive architecture
Speakers:
  • Navigating geometry: Managing complex rotational envelopes in high-rise design
  • Geometric freedom: Engineering non-orthogonal façades for modern structural frames
  • High-performance resilience: Engineering large-scale sloping glass for security & impact
  • Strategic integration: Combining façade methodologies for optimized project delivery
Speakers:
  • Light as an emotional filter
  • The rhythm of fluidity
  • Framing the horizon
Speakers:
  • Unveiling a new, next-generation anodized aluminium cladding with an anodic oxide layer that harnesses sunlight to continuously break down pollutants, keeping façades cleaner for over 25 years with minimal maintenance
  • How its ultra-hydrophilic surface (WCA = 8.9°) helps with any remaining particles to effortlessly wash away with rain or wind, ensuring the façade stays brighter, fresher, and visually pristine year-round
Speakers:
  • Sustainable powder coatings to protect aluminium and steel substrates: Durability, metallic finishes and corrosion protection
  • Bio based powder coatings
  • Sustainable powder coatings to provide aesthetic finishes & latest colour trends in architecture
Speakers:
  • Advancements in lightweight façade insulation technologies and their role in improving thermal performance, reducing thermal bridging, and enhancing overall envelope efficiency
  • Integration of hybrid insulation systems combining EPS with mineral-based layers to achieve improved fire performance and compliance with modern façade safety requirements
  • Regional case studies demonstrating the application of modern lightweight insulated façade systems, installation methodologies, and long-term durability outcomes in hot and humid climates
Speakers:
  • AI as a creative partner
  • Accelerating design exploration
  • AI and communication with clients
  • Expanding architectural/façade creativity
  • Unlocking future possibilities with AI

Drew Gilbert

Speakers:
Event Details
  • 214th Edition – Zak World of Façades UAE, April 23, 2026
  • Start Date
    April 23, 2026 8:00 am
  • End Date
    April 23, 2026 5:00 pm
  • Status
    Upcoming
  • Location
  • Venue
  • Category
    • Sponsors

    This site uses cookies. Find out more about cookies and how you can refuse them.

    I Accept