What AE7 does

AE7 is a privately held, multi-disciplinary design firm founded in 2009 in Dubai by five architects and two engineers. It provides full-service planning, architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, master planning, and construction supervision services, delivered as an integrated concept-through-construction offering. The firm serves private and government-backed real estate developers, government and public-sector clients, educational institutions, and hospitality operators, with demonstrated work spanning high-rise towers, waterfront and island developments, mixed-use districts, hospitality, healthcare, retail, and large-scale master planning. Reported scale metrics include roughly $17 billion in constructed value, 360+ sq km master planned, 75 sq km built-up area delivered, and 650+ staff from over 40 countries.

The firm operates across approximately 16-21 offices spanning MENA (UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia), North America (Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Cleveland), Europe (Bratislava, Düsseldorf), and Asia (India, Philippines). Its core technology is a multi-disciplinary design platform integrating architecture, master planning, engineering, interior design, and landscape architecture with financial modeling and development consulting. Differentiating technical elements include a holistic design approach that pairs design with financial pro-forma analysis, BIM technologies, embedded sustainability capabilities (LEED certification, net-zero and passive design), and cross-office global team collaboration. Through sister company Bright Developments, AE7 extends into holistic development creation, market analysis, and project oversight.

AE7 monetizes through professional-services fees on a quote/project basis, with fees determined by scope, complexity, and duration; no standardized pricing tiers are publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven — projects are secured via competitive tenders, RFPs/RFQs, long-term client relationships, industry events, referrals, and thought leadership, executed through a direct global office network and regional business-development leadership. Revenue streams span architecture and design services, development consulting (via Bright Developments), and site supervision. Named engagements include Dubai Municipality's Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Azizi's Burj Azizi and Venice developments, Majid Al Futtaim's $3.1 billion New Cairo deal, and FIVE Luxe.

Name

AE7

Legal name

AE7

Website

https://ae7.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

AE7 is a Dubai-founded, privately held multi-disciplinary design firm providing architecture, engineering, master planning, interior design, landscape, and development consulting services. It serves real estate developers, governments, hospitality operators, and educational institutions across MENA, North America, Europe, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural & Engineering Design Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Interior Design Services (541410), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Master planning services
• Building information modeling
• Interior design services
• Engineering design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Architecture & Design: Full-service planning, architecture, and engineering design services from concept through construction documentation. Revenue generated through professional fees based on project scope, complexity, and service duration. Services span master planning, architectural design, interior design, landscape architecture, and engineering disciplines.
2. Development Consulting: Through sister company Bright Developments, provides holistic development services including market analysis, development creation, and project oversight. Brings fresh and sustainable approach through research and analysis to create unique visions for developments.
3. Site Supervision Services: Construction phase oversight services ensuring projects meet highest standards and specifications. Includes quality control, safety protocol enforcement, and stakeholder communication throughout project lifecycle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AE7 is a multi-disciplinary design firm providing full-service architecture, master planning, engineering, interior design, and landscape architecture services from concept through construction documentation. The firm integrates financial modeling and development consulting with creative design across commercial, residential, hospitality, healthcare, education, mixed-use, retail, civic, and waterfront project typologies. Through its sister company Bright Developments, AE7 additionally provides development creation and consulting services spanning market analysis, project oversight, and research-driven vision development.

Product overview

AE7 is a full-service multi-disciplinary design firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of architecture, master planning, engineering, and interior design services organized as distinct practice areas. The firm operates across 21 global offices and 40+ countries with expertise spanning Commercial Architecture, Destination Development, Engineering (infrastructure, MEP, structural), Food & Beverage Design, Health & Wellness Facilities, High-Rise Buildings, Higher Education, Hospitality, Interior Design, Island Developments, Master & City Planning, Mixed-Use Development, Nature Reserves, Public & Civic Design, Public Realm & Landscape Architecture, Residential, Retail Design, Site Supervision, Sustainability, and Waterfront Developments. Through its sister company Bright Developments, AE7 also offers development creation services from inception to management. The firm's services range from concept through construction, combining planning, architecture, engineering, visualization, and project management into an integrated delivery approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Architecture Services Design of office buildings, light industrial facilities, and workplace interiors focused on flexibility, technology integration, and health and wellbeing for speculative and build-to-suit projects, delivered to commercial real estate developers and corporate occupiers.
• Destination Development Experience-based development services combining market research, financial pro-forma analysis, and human-centered design to create captivating destinations with social interactions and beyond-expectations amenities for hospitality and mixed-use clients.
• Development Creation (via Bright Developments) Holistic development services through sister company Bright Developments, offering development creation from inception through management with research-driven vision development for unique project outcomes.
• Engineering Services Comprehensive engineering including infrastructure (roads, utilities, power, stormwater), MEP and fire protection, low voltage and security systems, and structural engineering for projects ranging from standard buildings to the world's tallest towers.
• Food & Beverage Design Design services for dining settings including nouvelle cuisine restaurants, casual food halls, and experiential food venues, focusing on brand, cuisine, and ambiance integration.
• Health & Wellness Design Healthcare facility design spanning hospitals, behavioral health, medical office buildings, treatment centers, clinics, spas, fitness centers, senior housing, and rehabilitation facilities with a hospitality-inspired approach.
• High-Rise Buildings Design Tall tower design services for residential, hospitality, commercial, and mixed-use buildings emphasizing micro-community concepts, smart technologies, outdoor integration, and understated elegance.
• Higher Education Design Campus planning, historic building revitalization, and specialized facility design for academic institutions including student unions, housing, dining, athletic facilities, and innovation hubs.
• Hospitality Design Hotel, serviced apartment, and resort design services focused on guest lifestyle, brand identity expression, space optimization, and operational efficiency for memorable guest experiences.
• Interior Design Interior design services across hospitality, corporate, retail, dining, residential, and healthcare sectors, emphasizing user experience, cross-industry innovation, and lasting design value.
• Island Developments Flexible design solutions for island developments including open water/lake or natural/manmade islands, balancing tailored programs with economically feasible infrastructure and maximizing 360-degree views.
• Master & City Planning Large-scale master planning for city districts, mixed-use developments, island communities, urban waterfront areas, residential communities, and mountainous tourist destinations with inclusive community engagement.
• Mixed-Use Development Design Thriving mixed-use development design integrating wellness, convenience, accessibility, and dynamic use mix with flexible frameworks that adapt to demographic and technological changes.
• Nature Reserves Design Nature reserve design with regenerative planning approaches that foster wildlife and flora diversity while minimizing visitor impact and providing educational environmental experiences.
• Public & Civic Design Civic building design including public safety facilities and community centers, emphasizing community values, durability, sustainability, and multi-generational adaptability.
• Public Realm & Landscape Architecture Landscape and public realm design connecting natural and built environments, including parks, nature reserves, eco-tourism destinations, streetscapes, roof gardens, and therapeutic gardens.
• Residential Design Multi-family, single-family, and dormitory residential design focused on occupant experiences, health, quality of life, flexibility, inclusivity, and technology integration for distinctive living environments.
• Retail Design Retail destination design merging e-commerce with physical shopping, dining, and recreation experiences through placemaking, brand expression, and flexible future-proofing strategies.
• Site Supervision Services Construction site oversight services including resource management, quality control, safety protocols, and stakeholder communication throughout project lifecycles.
• Sustainability & Sustainable Engineering Sustainable design services focusing on social resilience, environmental stewardship, economic viability, net-zero targeting, and regenerative design approaches using passive and active measures.
• Waterfront Developments Waterfront development design for open sea, beachfront, lakefront, and manmade typologies, maximizing site potential while enhancing social and ecological integrity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41st largest AE firm by BD+C ranking
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bright DevelopmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company offering holistic development services beyond architecture and engineering. Provides development creation, market analysis, and project oversight services. Works hand-in-hand with AE7 to deliver innovative solutions and financially beneficial development opportunities to global clients.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: World's largest architecture and design firm with deep expertise in commercial, hospitality, mixed-use and master planning across global markets. Comparable to AE7 in multi-disciplinary design delivery for large-scale developer and enterprise clients.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure and design consultancy with architecture, engineering, and program management services. Comparable to AE7's integrated design-plus-engineering-plus-site supervision delivery model for large public and private developments.
• AtkinsRéalis (formerly Atkins/SNC-Lavalin): Global design, engineering and project management consultancy with a major Middle East presence. Comparable to AE7's integrated architecture, engineering and site supervision delivery on mega-projects across the region.

Direct peers

• HOK: Global architecture, engineering and planning firm with strong hospitality, healthcare, and high-rise practices. Closely comparable to AE7 in delivering integrated design across building typologies and serving large developer clients.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture practice with healthcare, higher education, mixed-use and high-rise expertise. Comparable to AE7 in multidisciplinary design delivery and emphasis on sustainability/LEED leadership.
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Global architecture, engineering and urban planning firm known for supertall towers and master planning. Comparable to AE7 in tall-building expertise (Burj Azizi aligns with SOM's signature supertall portfolio) and master planning at city scale.
• HKS: Global architecture firm with strong hospitality, high-rise residential, and healthcare practices. Comparable to AE7 in delivering tall towers, hospitality (FIVE Luxe equivalent), and large developer-led mixed-use projects.
• WATG: Global hospitality, resort and destination design firm. Comparable to AE7's hospitality practice (FIVE Luxe, ranked 21st by BD+C) and destination development offering for mixed-use and waterfront projects.

Regional players

• Dar Al-Handasah (Sidara): Beirut-headquartered global AE consultancy with deep MENA presence across UAE, KSA, Egypt. Direct regional peer to AE7 for government, infrastructure, master planning, and large developer projects across the Middle East.
• KEO International Consultants: Kuwait-headquartered AE firm with strong presence in UAE, KSA and broader MENA. Comparable regional peer to AE7 in delivering integrated architecture, engineering and project management for developer and government clients in the Gulf.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AE7design
• Instagraminstagram.com/ae7_design
• Facebookfacebook.com/AE7design
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ae7
• Xx.com/AE7Design

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AE7