water colour painting cutting through the Al Majlis Conference Centre at the Al Maha Desert Resort designed by RTAE, Dubai

AL MAJLIS CONFERENCE CENTRE

AL MAJLIS CONFERENCE CENTRE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

LOCATION
Map of Umm Al Quwain

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Project Facts

Project Al Majlis Conference Centre
Client Emirates
Built-Up-Area 13,000 sq.ft (1,200 sq. metres)
Services Concept, Preliminary and Details Design, Interior Design including FF&E, Project Management, Local Authority Approvals, Tender, Construction Supervision.
Status Complete, 2004
Budget Undisclosed
Awards Nominated for Agha Khan Award for Architecture, Arab Towns and Cities Award.

Project Features

Conference 1 Large Hall for 250 pax (Classroom-style)/ 100 pax (Banquet-style) with the option to breaking down into 3 smaller Conference Halls to MICE standards and Breakout Rooms, Delegate Arrivals Courtyard, Entrance and Foyer, Ante Space for food/ drinks set up, and a Smokers Terrace. 
Back of House Men’s and Ladies’ Washrooms, Service Block including set-up kitchen, Furniture Stores

water colour painted elevation of the Al Majlis Conference Centre at the Al Maha Desert Resort designed by RTAE, Dubai

Front Elevation

Built as Phase 2 of the Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa project, the challenge in designing and building a conference centre/ MICE facility was creating the large volumes required for its function in an architectural style that where such volumes don’t exist.

Designed in keeping with the architectural style established in Phase 1 of the Resort, the massing of the large central volume is ‘broken’ down by the numerous support facilities positioned around this volume. By introducing smaller structures of differing scale, the large volume housing the conference facility is no longer visible as a singular large volume.

water colour floor plan of the Al Majlis Conference Centre at the Al Maha Desert Resort designed by RTAE, Dubai

Floor Plan

The building is further regionalised through the order of the public spaces and how they are connected, as well as the introduction of local elements such as water features and courtyards. Thus, though the building has a contemporary function that is alien to the local history, guests and visitors experience enjoy conference facilities in a truly local setting.

And while much thought has gone into the architectural volume, no detail has been spared from a functional aspect. Equipped with the latest Wi-Fi and bluetooth technologies, the conference centre is capable of hosting large-scale (250-delegate) conferences to smaller training sessions. The interior of the conference hall is designed so it can be used as one large space, or through the use of sliding walls, the space can be broken down in two 2 medium-size or, 1 medium and 2 smaller spaces. All IT and presentation facilities are carefully integrated into the design to support these alternative seating arrangements. When not in use, the sliding walls ‘disappear’ neatly into building structure.

The building is further regionalised through the order of the public spaces and how they are connected, as well as the introduction of local elements such as water features and courtyards. Thus, though the building has a contemporary function that is alien to the local history, guests and visitors experience enjoy conference facilities in a truly local setting.
And while much thought has gone into the architectural volume, no detail has been spared from a functional aspect. Equipped with the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies, the conference centre is capable of hosting large-scale (250-delegate) conferences to smaller training sessions. The interior of the conference hall is designed so it can be used as one large space, or through the use of sliding walls, the space can be broken down in two 2 medium-size or, 1 medium and 2 smaller spaces. All IT and presentation facilities are carefully integrated into the design to support these alternative seating arrangements. When not in use, the sliding walls ‘disappear’ neatly into building structure.
Al Maha Conference Centre 5
Al Maha Conference Centre 1
Al Maha Conference Centre 4
Al Maha Conference Centre 2
Al Maha Conference Centre 3
Internal photos of the Al Majlis Conference Centre at the Al Maha Desert Resort designed by RTAE, Dubai

Related Projects

error: Content is protected !!
Scroll to Top

WAEL SAMIH AL KAYYALLI

With over 40 years of experience in project and construction management across the region, Al-Kayyalli has worked in senior-management level roles with some of the biggest real-estate development companies across the Gulf region.

Specialised in working on complete project lifecycle, Al-Kayyalli’s has wide-reaching experience in all stages of project development and delivery ranging from initial preliminary and feasibility studies, financial and time planning, costing and procurement, value engineering, construction supervision and management to commissioning and testing before final handover.

Before joining Rashid Taqui Architects and Engineers, Al Kayyalli was the CEO of the Saudi Qitaf al Ardah Development Real Estate Co. (Al Nahda & Al Omar Group) where he re-structured the company to fully develop in-house turnkey developments through the establishment of an in-house project management and procurement office.

Prior to which, he was the Vice President Project Management and Engineering of Al-Oula International-Amar International Real Estate where Al Kayyalli successfully implemented major investment programs for the firm’s operations in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as turnkey solutions tailored to the findings of market analysis studies.

Earlier, Al-Kayyali was the Director of Development & Project Management for Al-Nahdi Group (KSA) and KCMCC(Kuwait Commercial Market Company), and Director/ Construction Manager for a number of key contracting firms including Al-Jafr Trading and Contracting Co. (KSA), Ali & Fouad Al-Ghanim Co. (Kuwait), Al-Habtoor Engineering (UAE), Al-Muhairy Contracting Co. (UAE) and Al-Hani Construction & Trading Bureau (Kuwait).

RULA HANNOUN

Born and educated in the United Kingdom, Rula Hannoun completed her undergraduate in anthropology at the University of Manchester in 1979 prior to completing her postgraduate MBA (Finance) at the Manchester School of Business in 1981.

Hannoun’s professional career began at the First National Bank of Chicago, Corporate Finance division before moving to Project Finance, Oil and Gas. As the Deputy Head of the Oil and Gas division for EMEA at 26, Hannoun became the youngest Vice President in the history of the bank.

After marrying and relocating to Dubai, Hannoun left the banking sector in 1985 to raise her family. She resumed her professional career in the mid-90s as Advisor to the Economic Department of Dubai, spearheading the establishment of Dubai Internet City – the second and one of the most successful free zones in Dubai.

With an inherent passion of architecture and design and a key eye for business, in 1999 Hannoun established the firm Tala Furniture, dedicated to providing quality furniture to the booming hospitality sector across the Gulf and North Africa. Nearly two decades later the company is recognised as one of the leading suppliers of complete hotel interior products, operates 3 factories in CEBU, China and Indonesia and boasts over 120 professional staff focused on project management, technical services, manufacturing, sourcing and quality control.

A member of the Young President’s Organisation (YPO) and an active fundraiser, Hannoun has dedicated much of her personal life to raising awareness for children with special needs. She was instrumental in the establishment of Asseef School (Dubai Centre for Special Needs) in the late 80s, the first special needs school in Dubai to receive funding from the late HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and remains equally diligent in her quest today, to protect the rights of the children without a voice.

RASHID TAQUI

With near 30 years of experience in the design, management and delivery of complex architectural projects, Rashid Taqui’s portfolio spans multiple sectors in Australia, Greece, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UK, and the UAE.

Taqui has a Master’s in International Architecture Studies from the University of Huddersfield (UK), and two theses to his credit: The UAE – Searching for a Lost Identity, and The National Museum in Al Ain, UAE.

Starting his career in 1996 as a fresh graduate at German firm Schuster Pechtold’s Dubai office, he won instant appreciation and international applause for conceptualising and designing the multi-award-winning Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa – the first eco-resort in the Middle East attributed to having changed the discourse of architecture in the UAE. His involvement in other ‘firsts’ for the region include the establishing a voice for the architects and designers by the launching Dubai’s premier and the regions’ leading architectural journal, Architecture Plus, shaping the annual architectural networking event, Cityscape and founding the international awards for architecture and design in the UAE.

Taqui’s broad-ranging experience covers urban planning projects, resorts and hotels, palatial residences, shopping malls, airports, schools, banks, offices and varied public and cultural facilities, and undertaken while holding senior positions in the UAE offices of German multi-disciplinary firm Kling Consult, civil engineering firm Italconsult SPA, and architectural firm Incorporated Consultants (Conin).

Rashid Taqui Architects and Engineers, established in 2008, is his personal brand that specialises in contextually authentic, eco-aware architecture. He ardently advocates integrity and sustainability while targeting high yields for stakeholders through innovative design, investment opportunities, and value engineering.

Taqui often speaks at public events and writes regularly for local publications. His interests include fitness, films, food, and travel.

General Query

Careers Query

Trade Query

RFP Query

Design Query