Canadian University Dubai (CUD) architecture graduate, Alan George, has been named Construction Week Middle East Rising Star of the Year in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the region’s design sector. The award spotlights the young architect as one to watch, based on his meticulous design and planning skills, combined with his unique passion for the industry.
The Construction Week Awards are a flagship event celebrating the exceptional individuals, initiatives, and businesses shaping the Middle East’s built environment. The awards recognize and reward individual excellence, corporate pioneers, and innovative projects that have taken the initiative to be future-ready within the construction industry. Entries are judged by an esteemed panel of sector-based peers, setting the awards apart as an independent and highly reputed platform for industry recognition.
George graduated from CUD with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2012 and is currently practising as an Architect with Orange Design Group, UAE. He began his professional career with an engineering firm based in Dubai, and within a year, he delivered a massive logistics facility project located on Sheikh Zayed Road. A few years later, he joined the team delivering the master plan and key projects for Mina Rashid, and since joining Orange Design Group, he has been part of numerous bespoke, award-winning projects within the residential and hospitality sector.
The Construction Week Rising Star accolade crowns an impressive year for George, whose remarkable career trajectory has earned him recognition from the Dubai Government, with the award of a golden visa acknowledging his contribution to developing the city’s build environment. George was also part of the team that won the Design Middle East award for Workplace of the Year 2022.
Speaking about his achievements, George said, “It is truly an honour to win the category of Rising Star of the Year. This has been a culmination of continual learning and developing my abilities to add value across many design verticals. It has been a truly fantastic year, and I cannot wait to get on with 2023.”
In parallel with his professional projects, George has always kept one foot in academia. He gives back to higher education as an external judge and part-time lecturer for several architecture programs across the UAE. He maintains a close affiliation with Canadian University Dubai as an Advisory Board Member for the Faculty of Architecture and Interior Design, helping build strong connections between academia and professional practice.
Reflecting on his time as a student at CUD, George said, “The Faculty of Architecture and Interior Design drove my tenacity and taught me how to stand by my principles and design thinking. The design studio enabled me to think beyond the ordinary, push design further, and explore great possibilities. Moreover, CUD taught me how to be open to collaboration. This combination is undoubtedly facilitating my success.”
He continued, “My professors at CUD had a profound impact on me personally and professionally. They provided me with a balance between academic excellence and the reality of the field of architecture. What I enjoyed most was being in the company of fellow students who have now become industry peers. Bonds forged within the design studio are lifelong. We remain in contact and help elevate each other along our professional journey.”
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About Canadian University Dubai
Canadian University Dubai (CUD), established in 2006, is a higher academic institution located in City Walk, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The University is the #1 ranking University in Dubai and among the leading 2% of universities worldwide, according to the QS World University Rankings 2023. CUD is a diverse and dynamic institution with over 120 student nationalities. CUD offers a wide range of academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a reputation for academic excellence, offering 18 accredited degree programs and over 30 concentrations from across four academic faculties. The curriculum is Canadian-based and serves as a gateway for students to pursue higher education, research, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in Canada.
