One of the names behind Dubai’s most striking skyline has been formally recognised by the city. Mahdi Amjad, founder and executive chairman of OMNIYAT, has received the Dubai-it Award in the real estate projects category.
The award was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, on 4 November 2026. It honours people and institutions that embody the spirit of the city.
In this article
What is the Dubai-it Award?
The Dubai-it Award is an annual honour that celebrates individuals, projects, companies and institutions that reflect Dubai’s ambition. Its aim is both to recognise achievement and to inspire the next generation.
This year, six winners were named across different fields:
- Institutions in the economy: Emirates NBD
- Project managers: Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman of DMCC
- Real estate projects: Mahdi Amjad, founder of OMNIYAT
- Services: Ounass, through Khalid Al Tayer
- Entrepreneurs: Charlie Wright, founder of Humantra
- Hospitality: chef Izu Ani
Sheikh Hamdan said the winners showed “Dubai’s philosophy of work in action across every field: extraordinary achievement, in record time, with excellence.”
Why Mahdi Amjad was recognised
According to the announcement, Mahdi Amjad was honoured for turning the designs of world-renowned architects into landmarks that enrich Dubai’s skyline. That is the core of the OMNIYAT approach: commissioning major architects and building to their vision.
Under Mahdi Amjad, the company has worked with Zaha Hadid Architects and Foster + Partners, and with hospitality partners such as Dorchester Collection. Its projects are designed to be read as architecture first, and as real estate second.
OMNIYAT and the ultra-luxury market
OMNIYAT is best known for ultra-luxury residences and hotels in some of Dubai’s most prominent locations. The Opus by Zaha Hadid, in Business Bay, is among its signature buildings: two towers joined into a single cube, with a free-form void cut through the middle.
The company’s residential projects on the Palm Jumeirah and along Dubai Water Canal have helped define the top end of the city’s property market, where buyers look for design, privacy and branded hotel services.
Founded in 2005, the company has grown from a single ambitious tower into a portfolio that spans branded residences, hotels and office buildings. Its later projects on Marasi Bay and the Palm continue the same formula: a single strong architectural idea, high-end hospitality partners and a limited number of homes.
Over the past decade, the ultra-prime segment has become one of the strongest parts of Dubai real estate. Developers like OMNIYAT have shown that buyers will pay for architectural authorship, and that a building can be marketed as a piece of design rather than as square metres.
In his own words
Reflecting on the award, Mahdi Amjad said:
“To be recognised by the city that gave my ambitions a home is an honour I hold close to my heart.”
Mahdi Amjad described his journey as inspired by the UAE’s leadership and its commitment to turning ambitious visions into reality.
What the award says about Dubai
More than an individual achievement, the recognition celebrates the spirit of ambition, creativity and excellence that continues to define Dubai. The six winners come from banking, trade, retail, wellness, hospitality and real estate, which shows how broad the city’s success has become.
For the real estate sector, it is also a signal. Design-led development is now part of the city’s official story, not only its marketing. True luxury is not simply about creating extraordinary spaces, but about leaving a lasting legacy.
What to watch next
For Amjad, the award arrives at a busy moment. OMNIYAT continues to add new residential and hospitality projects to its portfolio, and the city’s appetite for design-led homes shows little sign of slowing. Expect the next generation of its buildings to follow the same principle: fewer, better homes, each tied to a strong architectural signature.
For readers following Dubai’s skyline, it is a reminder that the most memorable buildings usually begin with a developer willing to take a risk on an idea.
More from BYGEARS: Aseel AlYaqoub and the desert herbarium that won the Ithra Prize
Sources: Khaleej Times, Gulf Today, OMNIYAT