Raya Ani is the founder and design director of the award-winning studio RAW-NYC Architects based in New York City and Dubai.

She has over 25 years of international experience as a multidisciplinary architect and urban designer, having worked in Baghdad, Boston, Dubai, Germany, and New York City. She is a licensed architect in New York City.

She received her bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Baghdad University with distinction, and her master’s in Architecture from MIT, where she was awarded the prestigious Harvard/MIT Aga Khan Scholarship.

Architect Raya Ani of Raw-NYC Architects, who designed the Iraq Pavilion, stated that the design was inspired by the organic flowing form of the net casting technique, which is suggestive of fishing, a centuries-old form of livelihood in Iraq.

As the 2017 President of the American Institute of Architects-Middle East Chapter, she launched AIA Middle East in Iraq to empower Iraqi architects through a global platform.

She designed the first green school and two green residential buildings in New York City. Raya Ani has been bestowed upon her the title of Fellow American Institute of Architects by the New York chapter for her excellence in design and outstanding contributions to the field of architecture.

Raya Ani’s boundless energy to inspire and empower through her creative and strategic visions is seen in the Iraqi Pavilion at Expo 2020. She lobbied for Iraq’s participation at Expo 2020 and designed and supervised the construction of the Iraq Pavilion.

In 2022, she received the 2021 Takreem award for Environmental Development and Sustainability. The award recognises Arabs who have achieved excellence in their field of expertise.

RAW-NYC Architects is a firm that competes with the best architectural studios in the world due to her innovative approach to fusing innovation, sustainability, and technology, as well as her passion and commitment to architectural innovation. RAW-NYC is currently collaborating with clients to help them realise larger visions while adhering to strict deadlines and budgets.