The Middle East Landscape Awards returned on 17 November 2025, gathering the region’s landscape and public realm community for an exciting evening of recognition, discussion, and exchange. This year was Dar’s first participation as a Network Sponsor.

Dar’s presence extended beside sponsorship through a dedicated exhibition stand, where selected landscape and public realm projects were shared and discussed with industry peers throughout the evening.

Dar also hosted a Placemaking Panel Discussion, moderated by Francesco Roesler, Principal Landscape Architect and Head of the Placemaking and Public Wayfinding Design Unit at Dar. The discussion focused on the cultural and social aspects that shape public space, emphasising the importance of the human factor in public realm design and the need to understand the people who will ultimately use and define these environments.

The panel featured voices from both practice and academia, including:

• Wafa Al-Madani, Director of the Department of Engineering Programs - College of Applied Studies at the University of Bahrain
• Rowan D'Arcy, Regional Studio Director MENA at ASPECT Studios
• Amer Mneimneh, Regional Managing Director at Prior + Partners
• Asli Ergen, Director at ONE landscape design Ltd.

The event concluded with the Awards Ceremony, where Francesco Roesler received the well-deserved Rising Star Award, which recognises emerging professionals in the landscape industry who demonstrate exceptional promise and impact.

Dar was pleased to take part in the Middle East Landscape Awards 2025, and for the team, it was an especially rewarding evening, outlined by exhibiting projects and sharing perspectives on the factors that affect public realm design.