Gensler Middle East Hosts Design Forecast Live 2025 at Nikki Beach Dubai

October 10, 2025

Gensler Middle East hosted its highly anticipated Design Forecast Live 2025 on Thursday evening (October 2). The event brought together leading industry experts, developers, and urban thought leaders to present key findings from its 2025 Design Forecast report at Nikki Beach Dubai Resort & Spa, a brand Gensler is working with in the region.

The event explored how design can create adaptable, experience-driven, and resilient urban environments in response to shifting social, economic, and environmental needs. Set against the backdrop of Dubai’s iconic beachfront, the event featured a panel discussion exploring how experience-driven lifestyle districts are reigniting cities across the region and shaping the future of urban life, as well as a keynote presentation on the future of Digital Design Experience.

Todd Pilgreen and Tariq Shaikh, Co-Managing Directors and Principals at Gensler Middle East kicked off the event: “Resilience, experience, urban transformation, they’re not just ambitions, they’re a necessity. The report highlights how design can create adaptable cities, meaningful experiences, and equitable places that support human well-being. The design forecast explores three, primary, central themes related to the Middle East.” Said Shaikh.

“The first is resilience, creating adaptable, future-ready cities. The second is experience, redefining workplaces, retail, lifestyle districts around people’s evolving needs. The third is urban transformation, advancing livable and 20-minute walkable cities, rethinking growth with sustainability and accessibility at the core.” Continued Pilgreen.

Moderated by Steven Velegrinis, Design Director and Regional Head of Gensler’s Cities Practice Area, the panel brought together an esteemed lineup of experts, including Dr. Louise Lambert, H.E. Ismail Al Naqi, Hrvoje Cindrić, and Dr. Cristiano Luchetti. Over the course of the 40-minute session, the discussion tackled inclusivity, wellbeing, sustainable urban design, adaptive reuse, and the integration of cultural identity into large-scale developments. The overarching theme from the panel was how to design for improved connection and well-being between a district and its occupants.

Dr. Cristiano Luchetti, Head of Urban Design at Dorsche Global, highlighted the need for cultural identity as a foundation for urban revitalization: “City spaces are not really recognizable anymore. We don’t recognize ourselves in cities, we call it junk space. In this sense, identity becomes the main driver of new possibilities within development. I think architects and designers need to embrace this condition. Thinking about what is the nature of contemporary users? I believe that citizens have started losing attention, and so we need to start thinking about how to be entertained when we experience spaces.”

Dr. Louise Lambert, Director of Happiness and Wellbeing Programs @HappinessMatters!, underscored the emotional dimension of urban experiences, noting that meaningful engagement and personal growth now define the new urban lifestyle: “People today want something real—they want to feel alive again. Experiences last far longer than material purchases. They feed our personal growth and our desire to live more meaningfully within our cities.”

His Excellency Ismail al Naqi, Director General, Ajman Free Zone, discussed how balancing affordability, commercial viability, and authentic placemaking creates more sustainable destinations: “Every city has its own rhythm and constraints. In Ajman, our challenge is to create developments that are financially viable yet deeply connected to people’s daily lives. By re-imagining and regenerating existing assets instead of always building anew, we can deliver destinations that are cohesive, accessible, and community focused. It’s about injecting soul into what already exists—crafting places where commercial success and human experience go hand in hand.” He added that the same urban pressures that limit certain cities also create openings for others: “The challenges in Dubai actually create opportunities for us in Ajman. We can capture those audiences who seek proximity, inclusivity, and value. Every development must focus on value creation—for society, for the city, and for its people—and that is what makes a project truly sustainable in the long run.”

Hrvoje Cindrić, Global Urban Strategies Lead at Buro Happold, reflected on the evolving identity of Gulf cities and the importance of vibrancy and flexibility in design: “When I first arrived in the Middle East, I was struck by how much space we had, and sometimes how wasteful we were with it. We’re now seeing a brave shift by some developers toward human-centred urban experiences that challenge existing conventions. People aren’t drawn to buildings—they’re drawn to other people. The true success of any district lies in how well it brings people together, encourages interaction, and adapts over time.”

Following the panel, Robbie Robertson, Regional Digital Experience Design Practice Area Leader at Gensler, delivered an engaging keynote titled Technology That Turns Districts into Destinations.

Robertson explored how digital ecosystems, smart mobility, and data-driven design are reshaping urban districts: “As designers, we start by asking what experience we want to create for people—citizens, visitors, and clients—and then explore how technology can enhance that journey. Technology isn’t an add-on; it’s the invisible layer that connects people, content, and place to create more meaningful, efficient, and joyful experiences.”

He also emphasized the measurable value of experience-driven design: “Integrating technology into our projects isn’t just about innovation—it’s about creating a positive return on investment, improving Net Promoter Scores, and, most importantly, creating happiness for citizens,” he added.

Robertson concluded by underscoring how community and technology together shape the cities of the future: “At Gensler, it’s all about creating community,” he said. “The digital ecosystem connects the physical and emotional experience—it’s what keeps districts vibrant long after day one.”