As a design leader at DLR Group, Henrique Dias plays a key role in shaping the firm’s architectural presence across the Middle East. His approach blends cultural awareness with cutting-edge technology, ensuring projects that are both forward-thinking and rooted in regional identity. Under his leadership, DLR Group has expanded its footprint across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, and Egypt, delivering designs that balance tradition with modernity.

Among the firm’s standout projects in 2025 is the 5* Buruj Hotel in Iraq, an award-winning project inspired by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The design captures the movement and connectivity of the Overlooking a vibrant mixed-used destination, this is CANOPY BY HILTON The Point in Abha waterways while maintaining a functional layout that enhances operational efficiency. In Saudi Arabia, a new development along Taif’s 50th Street integrates hospitality, retail, and lifestyle spaces, creating a dynamic hub for community engagement. Meanwhile, in the UAE, DLR Group Middle East is venturing into a commercial design in Abu Dhabi, a wellness-focused office environment for one of the leading developers.

Technology is central to Dias’s design philosophy. At DLR Group, virtual reality allows clients to experience and refine their spaces before construction, ensuring greater alignment between vision and execution. The firm is also incorporating gaming engines like Unreal Engine and Blender to develop immersive architectural environments, including applications for the Metaverse. AI-driven processes are being integrated beyond visualization—custom AI models are trained to adapt to client preferences, refining designs in real time for a more intuitive and data-driven workflow. Additionally, computational design tools such as Grasshopper for Rhino are being used to optimize spatial efficiency and sustainability.

As the Middle East undergoes rapid urban transformation, DLR Group is expanding its footprint with a strong focus on sustainability and technology-driven design. Dias views the region as a dynamic intersection of architectural heritage and bold innovation. “The Middle East is experiencing a pivotal shift where tradition and modernity must harmonise. Our mission is to design spaces that honour cultural identity while leveraging cutting-edge technology,” he explains.

Under his leadership, DLR Group continues to set new standards in regional architecture, delivering projects that are visually striking, futureproof, and deeply rooted in their context.