What Nabil Gholam Architects does

Nabil Gholam Architects (nga) is a Beirut-headquartered, privately held architecture practice founded in 1993 with 101-250 employees. The firm delivers comprehensive architectural services across the full project lifecycle — feasibility, concept, design development, construction documentation, and project management — spanning urban planning, high-rise towers, mixed-use developments, hospitality, residential, interior design, graphic design, product design, and event installations. Its technical foundation includes parametric and computational design tools and a focus on sustainable, climate-responsive architecture, evidenced by an adaptive double-skin envelope system, passive cooling strategies integrating wind towers and courtyards, and the first LEED-registered project in Lebanon (AUB IOEC, LEED Gold certified in April 2015).

The firm's client base is horizontally diversified across governments and public institutions (e.g., Al Awqaf Al Islamiah), real estate developers (Emaar Properties, Dubai Islamic Bank), international hospitality operators (Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Kempinski), educational institutions (American University of Beirut), corporates (CMA CGM), and high-net-worth individuals. Revenue is generated through professional services fees typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed design fees per scope. The go-to-market relies on international design competition wins, direct commissions, referrals, and strategic collaborations with globally tier-one architects such as Snøhetta, Steven Holl Architects, and Ricardo Bofill. Projects span 18+ countries across MENA, Europe, Asia, and North America, with brand-building supported by an internationally distributed monograph ('Eastwest', Thames & Hudson, 2013) and a track record of awards at Cityscape Global, ICONIC Design Awards, German Design Awards, and the World Architecture Festival.

Name

Nabil Gholam Architects

Legal name

Nabil Gholam Architects

Website

http://www.nabilgholam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nabil Gholam Architects is a Beirut-based, privately held architecture practice founded in 1993 delivering comprehensive design services — from urban planning and high-rise towers to interiors and product design — for governments, developers, hospitality operators, educational institutions, and private clients across MENA, Europe, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Sustainable architecture
• High-rise design
• Urban planning services
• Interior design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

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 Professional Services: The firm generates revenue through architectural design services, including feasibility studies, concept design, design development, construction documentation, and project management for residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and urban planning projects. Fees are typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed design fees for specific service scopes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nabil Gholam Architects is a full-service architecture practice delivering comprehensive design services spanning urban planning, high-rise towers, mixed-use developments, office and commercial buildings, hospitality projects, residential complexes, private villas, interior design, graphic design, product design, and event installations. The firm integrates sustainable design methodologies (including LEED certification processes, passive cooling, and parametric facade design) with regional architectural identity drawn from Middle Eastern and Mediterranean traditions.

Product overview

Nabil Gholam Architects (ngª) is a full-service architectural practice offering comprehensive design services across multiple building typologies. The portfolio encompasses office/commercial/institutional architecture (including LEED-certified projects), residential architecture (from private villas to large-scale compounds), mixed-use and hospitality developments, high-rise design, interior design, urban planning, product design collaborations, graphic design, and exhibition installations. The firm operates as an integrated studio with in-house capabilities spanning architecture, interiors, landscape, and graphic design, supplemented by specialized product design works and published architectural monographs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Office, Commercial and Institutional Architecture Services

Quantifiable outcome

• First LEED certified project in Lebanon (IOEC at AUB), LEED GOLD certification received April 22, 2015 — 4th LEED certified project in Lebanon
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered notable and major.

• Built by Associative Data (BAD.)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Teamed up for Beirut Design Week 2019 edition 'Design and Nostalgia' on the 'Memory in folded paper' installation project. The collaboration explored augmented reality applications and lightbox installations representing Beirut's architectural transformation.
• House of TodaynotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnered with House of Today (non-profit founded by Cherine Magrabi Tayeb in 2012) for the Uni sea urchin product design created with Guillaume Crédoz. Proceeds support young emerging designers and design student scholarships in Lebanon. The sea urchin pieces were represented by FUMI Gallery, London.
• SnøhettamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with international architecture firm Snøhetta on multiple projects including AUB Faculty of Arts & Sciences (First Place competition winner) and Bank Headquarters. Snøhetta is one of the world's most internationally recognized architecture firms, bringing global credibility and complementary design expertise.
• Steven Holl ArchitectsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration as design architects alongside L.E.FT on Beirut Marina & Town Quay project. Steven Holl Architects is a globally renowned architecture firm, adding international prestige to the project.
• Ricardo BofillnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcept design collaboration with renowned architect Ricardo Bofill on the Platinum Tower project in Beirut. Bofill is one of the most celebrated architects of the 20th/21st century, known for transformative architectural works.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Zaha Hadid Architects: London-headquartered, internationally recognized architecture practice with an extensive MENA project portfolio and signature parametric/high-rise work. Direct peer to NGA in scale of ambition, design-led positioning, and geographic focus on Gulf and Middle Eastern landmark commissions.
• Snøhetta: Internationally acclaimed architecture firm that has collaborated directly with NGA on the AUB Faculty of Arts & Sciences and Bank Headquarters projects. Comparable in mid-large size, design-led culture, and portfolio breadth across cultural, educational, and civic typologies.
• Steven Holl Architects: Internationally renowned design-led practice that has collaborated with NGA on the Beirut Marina & Town Quay project. Comparable in design prestige, project size, and focus on culturally significant, sustainability-driven architecture.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Contemporary international architecture firm with growing MENA portfolio (including Saudi projects) and a design-led, award-winning profile. Comparable to NGA in pursuit of iconicity, computational design, and high-profile competition wins.
• OMA: Rotterdam-based international practice with MENA cultural, residential, and master-plan projects. Comparable to NGA in scale, design ambition, and breadth of typologies from urban planning to interiors.
• Adjaye Associates: London-headquartered practice recognized for cultural, educational, and high-design residential commissions globally, including MENA work. Comparable in brand reputation, award-winning output, and design-led mid-large scale.
• Renzo Piano Building Workshop: Italian-founded international practice with cultural and high-rise commissions globally, including MENA. Comparable to NGA in craft-driven, sustainability-focused, design-led positioning for landmark projects.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: One of the world's largest and longest-established architecture practices, with significant MENA presence (including Riyadh and UAE mega-projects). Comparable typology-mix (high-rise, mixed-use, cultural, sustainable design) but materially larger scale and broader portfolio than NGA.

Regional players

• Dar Al-Handasah Architects (Sidara): Lebanese-origin, MENA-headquartered architecture and engineering firm with deep regional footprint across the Middle East and Africa. Most directly comparable regional peer to NGA in geography, founding heritage, and typology mix.
• Killa Design: Dubai-based architecture studio recognized for parametric, sustainability-driven, and sculptural design on MENA landmark projects. Comparable to NGA in regional focus, design-led boutique scale, and award-winning hot-climate work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nga_architects
• Facebookfacebook.com/nabilgholamarchitects

Compliance1 record

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 Nabil Gholam Architects