The next chapter for Fabidha is bold and expansive. Design Matter is leading two major hospital refurbishments for Aster, while expanding the company’s footprint in Saudi with three architecture and landscape projects – including the cutting-edge DataVolt data center. The pipeline also includes Atelier De Soul, a fashion styling flagship, and two distinctive office spaces: Abra HQ and Auryth – each blending innovation with immersive, purpose-driven design.

FROM START TO SUCCESS

Fabidha Safar-Rahman’s journey began amidst the sawdust and sketches of her father’s joinery factory. After studying interior design in 2005, she gained experience in the U.S. before moving to the UAE, where she freelanced across multiple sectors. In 2017, she founded Design Matter. Today, she leads an award-winning boutique studio of 10, bringing over two decades of expertise in healthcare, residential, retail, corporate, and façade design across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and India.

THE ROAD AHEAD

Fabidha envisions a future rich with opportunity – especially in healthcare, education, and hospitality. She’s focused on expanding into Saudi Arabia, with Design Matter now equipped to take on larger, more complex commercial and residential projects. Her vision includes pushing boundaries while honouring local culture, and scaling up emotional, sustainable, and intelligent design that elevates human experience.

Leading with Impact

Fabidha’s leadership combines cultural intelligence with global design fluency. She champions emotionally resonant spaces that balance aesthetics, function, and sustainability. Her philosophy centers around inclusive collaboration – uniting clients, teams, and communities into a co-creative ecosystem. As the Creative Director, she fosters agility, curiosity, and a people-first approach, inspiring both her team and the wider industry to prioritise wellness, authenticity, and future- ready design solutions in every project.

PROJECTS

That Define Excellence From reimagining Aster Hospital Mankhool’s 96,000sqft. space into a healing-centric landmark, to designing 10 residential towers for GJ Real Estate, Fabidha’s work blends innovation with empathy. She also led facade design for Riyadh’s Irqah Schools – Saudi Arabia’s first 100% Salmani Code-compliant educational project. These projects redefine standards across wellness, cultural integration, and tech- driven design, while creating meaningful spaces for thousands of people across the region.