UAE-based architect Muhammad Obaid wins Egypt’s State Encouragement Award
Dubai-based Egyptian architect Muhammad Obaid has been awarded the Encouragement Award in Arts by the State Awards, as part of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Culture (SCC). The award is presented to the ones who have contributed in fields of art, literature, and social sciences. Obaid is the founder of EMKAAN, a multidisciplinary firm offering various services, including urban planning, architecture, interior design, as well as structural engineering and MEP. The architect was awarded the prize for his proposal for “flying platforms” in Dubai that allow various public programmes to take place on an elevated platform using “detached cabins” that offer views over the city’s skyline. EMKAAN currently has projects across the UAE and Egypt within several sectors, including residential, commercial, and hospitality. Part of a larger awards programme that also features theNile Award, Appreciation Awards, and Encouragement Awards, the SCC’s Excellency Award is given to seven people each year who have made outstanding contributions. Each winner receives a silver medal and EGP 100,000.Egyptian architect and academic Ebtissam Moustapha received the Excellency Award in Arts for her various achievements in architecture, design, and education.