Just a few years ago, female architects in Saudi Arabia faced a job market with little available opportunities and even less appreciation. Today, however, these women are increasingly leading the way in various sectors across the country, thanks to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 national strategy plan to diversify its economy and have more inclusive social and economic spheres.
In this environment, women such as Saudi Arabia’s most famous female architect Nadia Bakhurji are making a name for themselves, following decades of determination and patience. From being a Chevening Fellow at the University College in London, to being awarded the Arab Women’s Excellence Award for Excellence in Architecture, Bakhurji continues today to break new grounds for Saudi women architects.
Bakhurji, who was Secretary General of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, is a board member of the Saudi Council of Engineers, and is President of her own firm, Nadia Bakhurji Architectural and Interior Design Consultants (NBA), started out in 1989 as a graduate in Interior Architecture from King Faisal University. She then established her own architectural and interior design consultancy called Riwaq of the Kingdom (ROK).
According to Stepfeed, Bakhurji started working on projects for her father’s business contacts, with her first major client being American telecommunications giant AT&T. Seven years later, she partnered with Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, working on projects in the hospitality, medical, educational, and corporate sectors and expanding her firm’s portfolio significantly.
By 2005, Bakhurji became the first Saudi woman to join the board of the Saudi Council of Engineers, and in 2007 she became known as one of the first women in Saudi Arabia to be granted an architectural consultant license, allowing her to finally launch her own company, NBA, offering comprehensive design services in partnership with top leading European architectural and engineering firms, Expanish from Spain and Vahanen from Finland.
Today, she is known for her unique architectural design style, iconic and award-winning projects, and philanthropic work. In 2012, Bakhurji won an award for her contributions to engineering and architecture at the 11th Middle East Women Leaders Awards, and throughout her career, she has campaigned for the advancement of women in the field of architecture, as well as engineering, education, and business.
