Sumaya Dabbagh, the founder of Dabbagh Architects, grew up in Saudi Arabia and studied her craft in the UK and Paris before moving to the UAE.
Ms Dabbagh previously cut her teeth on cultural projects, including the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah. The project was awarded an Architecture MasterPrize (2020), among others, and was nominated for the Aga Khan Awards (2018).
Many elements in the design of the Gargash Mosque are not usual ones. There are no traditionally shaped windows - a design quirk which took time for the planners to accept, and the minbar where the imam stands to lead the prayers is set to one side, leaving the mihrab niche empty bar as a shard of light from an overhead skylight. Furthermore, the minaret is designed as a separate body, just apart from the main mosque building. The architect placed sustainability at the heart of the project, sourcing the cladding and aluminium locally, and the stone from Oman.
Picture: © The National – Abu Dhabi.