dxb.lab Architecture

dxb.lab is an award-winning architecture practice based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Since its establishment in the year 2000 by Khalid Alnajjar, dxb.lab has achieved a distinguished reputation in the Middle East through an applied coupling of disciplined design principles, architectural avant-garde and modern technologies, while relishing its local roots and respecting regional customs and traditions in the built environment. In 2005, Shahab Lutfi joined the firm as business partner, and with his extensive background in finance and development has since been directing a number of large scale projects.

dxb.lab works range from Private Residences, Commercial and Office Buildings to Cultural and Public Projects, as well as Hotel Resorts and Master Plans. The firm is frequently invited to participate in local and regional competitions, and their built work has been extensively published internationally.



The team behind dxb.lab is a blend of locally and internationally educated and trained individuals, each with a distinctive personality, background and design talent. Being lead by principle architect Khalid Alnajjar, this interplay of characters has created a very lively and experimental atmosphere, often resulting in impulsive new architectural ideas, which are then materialized in new concepts and ultimately built projects.



Controlling the number of projects and working closely with clients is important for dxb.lab, and every design is treated with the same rigor and excitement, challenging minds and creativity anew. A thorough investigation of each project’s potential allows the generation of progressive architecture that pushes beyond common design boundaries. Fluid and experimental, the work evolves out of empirical observation and collaborative effort, also involving the participation of specialists in building engineering, component manufacturing and landscape design.