Haitham Mousa

About

Haitham Mousa is a Design Director with over 18 years of experience in Architectural Design, Urban Planning, and Master-planning across multiple firms worldwide. He brings a global perspective shaped by professional and academic experiences in Milan, Berlin, Madrid, Tokyo, Alicante, Rome, and Dubai. Under his intuitive leadership, KEO’s architectural design practice has undertaken a remarkable transformation not only in terms of elevated design quality but also to a broader footprint.
Throughout this significant journey, he has also drawn inspiration from distinguished architects like Kengo Kuma, Sou Fujimoto, and Massimiliano Fuksas. Haitham and the KEO team are actively involved in designing and shaping some of the largest developments in the Middle East, including architectural visions for new cities, Mixed-use developments, national housing projects, public schools and community buildings. Dr. Mousa has worked on various significant design projects in the region, including those for the largest national housing project in KSA, NEOM’s future visions, Dubai Global Connect Project (DGC) known as the ‘City of Trade,’ and the award-winning Akoya School in Dubai. He participated in establishing the Emirate of Sharjah’s Architectural and Urban Guidelines for UNESCO heritage sites, Sharjah: The Gate to Trucial States.
Holding a Ph.D. in Architecture and Planning from La Sapienza, University of Rome, Dr. Mousa integrates cultural insight with forward-thinking design into a portfolio that spans diverse projects across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He is deeply committed to exploring the definitions, values, and principles of contemporary architecture, while fostering a culture of the built environment rooted in social and environmental responsibility.
His achievements have garnered regional and international recognition. Dr. Mousa was nominated for the Architect of the Year Award by Design Middle East in both 2022 and 2023, reflecting his ongoing contributions to the profession. In 2023, he was also featured on the Design Middle East Creative Powerlist, which celebrates the most influential and forward-thinking figures shaping the design landscape of the region.
Blending creativity with critical inquiry, Dr. Mousa shapes spaces that respond meaningfully to both context and community. In addition to his professional practice, he has taught at Politecnico di Milano and currently, serves as adjunct professor at the School of Architecture at the Canadian University in Dubai, where he mentors and inspires the next generation of architects.