A student from the American University of Dubai’s architecture programme won gold at the 10th Annual International Design Awards in Los Angeles for her project honouring the Emirates' maritime heritage.
Somayeh Ghorbani, 33, was awarded first prize in the student architecture category for 'Crossing of the Coast,' a conceptual rendering of a modern, mixed-use cultural centre that pays tribute to the country's fishing and pearl diving history.
Ms Ghorbani researched and designed the project as part of her final year of undergraduate architectural studies at AUD.
She graduated last year. A jury of experts chose Ms Ghorbani’s design from more than 1,000 entries in one of five categories that were submitted by professional and student architects and designers from 52 countries.
“This annual competition recognises, honours and promotes legendary design visionaries and uncovers emerging talents in architecture, interior, product, graphic and fashion design on global level,” according to the IDA.
“The jury rewarded the best professional and emerging designers for their achievements in terms of design, creativity, usability and innovation.”
Ms Ghorbani fears that the country's rich maritime history is a fading memory for residents and nationals alike.
“I was really interested in studying and highlighting the UAE culture and traditional professions, like fishermen, pearl divers and boat builders,” said Ms Ghorbani, who is Iranian-American.
“These traditional professions, which built the UAE foundation, are becoming forgotten. No one really is interested about these traditional professions anymore, especially the younger generation. They are more into technology, new things – not anymore interested about their own identity. To me, culture is very important because it represents your identity. If you lose your identity, basically you will lose yourself.”
Ms Ghorbani’s design envisions three triangular structures set on three separate levels above Dubai’s existing fish market along the creek. The structures are interconnected by a series of crisscrossing bridges that allow visitors to experience the outdoor fish market below from different perspectives.
“Basically I want to bring people back to the sea,” said Ms Ghorbani. “I studied the history of these people and where they used to work, and the location represents these people because back then, mainly they worked in the creek area. And then I want to show how these people used to travel in the sea. They used to travel in the sea in order to catch the pearls or fish, and bring the fish to the port. These bridges represent how they travelled from one location to another.”
The building would be home to a fishing and diving centre, seafood restaurants, maritime museum and crafting studio to attract visitors and promote public appreciation and understanding of the country’s traditions.
“The fish market that is now located in the Creek area, it’s very much disconnected, no one is interested to go there,” said Ms Ghorbani.
By forcing pedestrians to stroll across the bridges from one structure to another, Ms Ghorbani said visitors would experience a bit of history, both literally and figuratively.
“It represents how these traditional professions, back then, they travelled from one point to another point in order to catch fish or pearls,” she said. “I wanted people to see the fish market from different points of view – from the vertical and the horizontal. It makes it more interesting to see the whole atmosphere.”
This autumn, she will begin her master’s degree at Northeastern University in Boston.
“But I hope to come back to the UAE again and start working,” she said. “To me, the UAE is the best place for architecture. They take risks, and of course they have money, they care about architecture, they keep building and you see so many great architectural designs here. It’s the best place to grow.”
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In the professional category, a number of UAE-based companies or projects were also awarded prizes.
They include:
Project: "DMMRC - Dubai Maritime Museum & Research Center "
Bronze - Architecture Categories / Institutional
Bronze - Architecture Categories / Sustainable Living/Gree
Company: Studio Niko Kapa
--
Project: "Al Khor Private Hospital"
Gold - Architecture Categories / Other Architectural Designs
Designer(s): tangramGulf, United Arab Emirates
--
Project: "Residential Complex – City of Towers" (A residential complex in the UAE)
Bronze - Architecture Categories / Landscape
Silver - Architecture Categories / Urban Design
Company: B+H Architects
Designer(s): B+H Architects, Canada
--
Project: "Mosque of the Water in Abu Dhabi"
Gold - Architecture Categories / Conceptual
Gold - Architecture Categories / Landmarks, symbolic structures, memorials, public
Company: Studio Niko Kapa
Designer(s): Niko Kapa, United Arab Emirates
Source: IDA Awards
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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