Perkins&Will Appoints New Middle East Director To Drive Research And Digital Innovation

Perkins&Will strengthens its Middle East presence with Yehia Madkour’s move to Riyadh

As part of its plan for continued growth in the Middle East, global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will has announced that Yehia Madkour is stepping into the newly created role of Middle East Director. Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Madkour is responsible for engaging with potential clients, developing relationships that lead to new commissions, and ensuring the successful delivery of projects.

A Canadian who was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Madkour has personal, cultural, and linguistic ties to the region. He also has several years of experience working in Saudi Arabia, having led or contributed to some of Perkins&Will’s biggest projects there—including a 2.5-million-square-foot multimodal transportation hub in Makkah; three towers in the recently opened King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh; and the entire Riyadh Bus Rapid Transit and Metro System, the world’s largest public transportation project, which opened in late 2024.

“I’m so pleased to be representing Perkins&Will in the Middle East, a part of the world I’m deeply connected to,” Madkour says. “In addition to my own portfolio here, Perkins&Will has a long legacy of winning and delivering important projects across the region—from schools and hospitals to universities and transit centers. I’m excited to carry that legacy forward, bringing my penchant for innovation to the fore to benefit our clients and their communities.”

Tapping Into a Region’s PotentialMadkour’s passion for transforming place through research-based design innovation is particularly aligned with the desires of the firm’s clients in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030, a transformational roadmap for modernizing the country’s society, economy, and government, is creating abundant opportunities in sectors such as health and well-being, sustainability, smart city planning, and technology.

“There’s so much potential to do incredible things here. To show the world what’s possible when it comes to designing for the future—for people, culture, and the natural environment,” Madkour says.

Madkour will work closely with Jones Lindgren, a principal at Perkins&Will who, for nearly two decades, has led dozens of projects across the Middle East. Madkour will also collaborate with the firm’s EMEA director Jo Wright; design director Pat Bosch; and other leaders in the firm who have extensive experience in the region.