What MZ Architects does

MZ Architects is a privately held, multi-award winning architecture and urban planning firm founded in 2002 by Marwan Zgheib. It operates with headquarters in Kaslik, Lebanon and a regional office in Abu Dhabi, UAE (established 2007), and delivers services across eleven project categories: Offices, Residential, Mixed Use, Hotel & Furnished Apartments, Commercial Buildings, Master Planning, Sports & Leisure, Public Buildings, Educational Buildings, Religious, and Medical. The firm has built a portfolio of landmark projects across the Middle East and Africa, including the ALDAR Headquarters (a circular skyscraper in Abu Dhabi), The Rock Stadium in Al Ain, Yas Creative Hub, The Gate in Doha, and the EKO Atlantic city development in Nigeria.

The firm's core technology is its design philosophy, which emphasizes sculptural architectural forms, pure geometric shapes, and the integration of buildings with natural topography, alongside a stated commitment to sustainable systems. It has no disclosed proprietary software, patents, or digital products; its output is delivered through conventional professional services: project-based architectural and urban planning commissions negotiated in scope with clients. Revenue is generated entirely through professional service fees on individual projects, with no pricing transparency disclosed.

Client concentration is enterprise- and government-led, including real estate developers (ALDAR Properties), banking and financial institutions (QNB), hospitality operators (Al Jaidah Group for W Hotel Doha), and government entities (Qatar Museum Authority). The go-to-market motion is primarily driven by winning design competitions and building long-term relationships across the Middle East and Africa, with project wins in Lebanon, Qatar, UAE, KSA, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, and Libya. The firm has accumulated 30+ industry and trade awards from 2008 through 2021, including World Architecture Festival, MIPIM, A' Design Awards, Iconic Awards, and CNBC Arabian Property Awards recognitions.

Name

MZ Architects

Legal name

MZ Architects

Website

https://mz-architects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MZ Architects is a privately held, multi-award winning architecture and urban planning firm founded in 2002, headquartered in Lebanon with a regional office in Abu Dhabi, serving enterprise and government clients across the Middle East and Africa with landmark building and master planning commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI), Office & Corporate Building Construction (IMAFACAA), Hospitality & Entertainment Venue Construction (IMAFACAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban master planning
• High-rise building design
• Commercial architecture
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Professional architecture and urban planning services including master planning projects, high-rise buildings, stadiums, cultural centers, educational and industrial buildings, hotels, residential buildings. Revenue generated through project-based professional service fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

MZ Architects is a multi-award winning architecture firm providing comprehensive architectural and urban planning services across eleven project categories: Offices, Residential, Mixed Use, Hotel & Furnished Apartments, Commercial Buildings, Master Planning, Sports & Leisure, Public Buildings, Educational Buildings, Religious, and Medical. Services span master planning for new city developments, high-rise buildings, stadiums, cultural centers, hotels, and residential projects. Revenue is earned through project-based professional service fees negotiated with developers, corporations, and government entities across the Middle East and Africa.

Product overview

MZ Architects is a multi-award winning architecture firm founded in 2002 by Marwan Zgheib. The firm provides comprehensive architectural and urban planning services organized across eleven project categories: Offices (commercial towers and headquarters), Residential (villas and towers), Mixed Use (integrated complexes), Hotel & Furnished Apartments (hospitality), Commercial Buildings (retail malls), Master Planning (city developments), Sports & Leisure (stadiums and recreational facilities), Public Buildings (civic structures), Educational Buildings (schools and universities), Religious architecture, and Medical facilities. The portfolio spans projects in Lebanon, Qatar, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt, with projects including signature landmarks such as ALDAR Headquarters (the world's first circular skyscraper), The Rock Stadium in Al Ain, Yas Creative Hub, and EKO Atlantic city development. The firm emphasizes sustainable systems, modern aesthetics, and designs that engage with historical and cultural contexts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• RMJM: International architecture firm with established Middle East presence. Comparable to MZ Architects as a multi-regional, multi-sector practice pursuing landmark and large-scale projects.
• Aedas: International architecture firm with multiple Middle East offices and a strong portfolio of high-rise, hospitality, and mixed-use projects. Comparable to MZ Architects as a multi-regional design-led practice serving enterprise clients.
• Killa Design: Dubai-based architecture firm known for the Museum of the Future and other sculptural landmarks. Closest regional direct peer to MZ Architects in terms of design-led, competition-winning, mid-sized Middle East practice.

Broad incumbents

• Atkins (member of the SNC-Lavalin Group): Global design, engineering, and project management consultancy with extensive Middle East footprint. Competes with MZ Architects on master planning, urban design, and large integrated project commissions.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture and integrated design firm with deep GCC presence (e.g., Lusail Stadium, Masdar City). Compares to MZ Architects in competing for the same mega-project and master-planning commissions across the Middle East, though at materially larger scale.
• Zaha Hadid Architects: Design-led global architecture firm with major Middle East portfolio (e.g., Bee'ah HQ, Al Janoub Stadium). Directly comparable to MZ Architects for sculptural, design-competition-led commissions in the region.
• HOK: Global design, architecture, and engineering firm with active work in the Middle East on sports, healthcare, and commercial projects. Comparable to MZ Architects for stadium, commercial, and institutional commissions.
• Gensler: Global design and architecture firm with significant Middle East presence, particularly in commercial and workplace design. Overlaps with MZ Architects on commercial and corporate headquarters commissions.
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Global architecture, engineering, and urban planning firm with a large Middle East portfolio (e.g., Burj Khalifa). Competes with MZ Architects on master planning and high-rise commissions across the region.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Award-winning global design firm with active Middle East work (e.g., Hyperloop, The Lego House). Competes with MZ Architects on high-profile design competitions and sculptural architectural briefs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mzarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mzarchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 MZ Architects