Past Presidents

2016 President
Design Director at Gulf Related

Click here to e-mail

A founding member of the AIA Middle East Board of Directors, Sherif has served as the Chapter's Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President and was the 2013 and 2016 President. Sherif served on the AIA International Board of Directors as the founding Zone 1 Region Director and is the current 2017-2018 Secretary.

Working to foster stronger ties between the AIA, regional architects and governments in the MENA region, Sherif and the Board seek to foster an understanding of the differences in professional practices between the US and Middle East; promote US training and design approaches; facilitate international recognition of US professional architectural credentials; and foster communications between the AIA and its members who work and reside in the Middle East.

With a rich and diverse experience in the USA, London and the GCC, Sherif relocated to Abu Dhabi from Boston in 2008 and is actively involved in projects in both Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. With more than 27 years experience working in Architecture, Interior Design and Urban Planning, his work ranges from residential and commercial buildings to academic and institutional facilities, all of which possess the qualities that make any type of project successful, attractive, sustainable, and most importantly, livable. Sherif is also a member of the Boston Society of Architects and a registered licensed architect in the State of Massachusetts.

Mr. Anis received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University School of Architecture.

2015 President
Associate at SOM

Click here to e-mail

Tannar Whitney is a Project Architect with significant experience on large scale mixed use and civic projects both domestically in the United States and internationally.  Mr. Whitney has a leadership role in guiding projects from Pre-concept through Final Design, ensuring continuity of design intent through to detail execution.  As an Associate for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill’s New York office, Mr. Whitney came to the UAE in 2010 to manage the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City project in Abu Dhabi.  During the ensuing 5 years, he has been instrumental in growing the firm’s Middle East practice and has worked on a range of building types in the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Prior to developing expertise in the Middle East market, Mr. Whitney was the Technical Coordinator for the expansion of JFK Airport’s International Terminal 4 in New York City, and earlier in his tenure with SOM, he was an integral part of the design group for super-tall and mixed-use developments in the Asia Pacific region; most notably SOM’s Digital Media City Tower in Seoul, Korea.

Mr. Whitney is currently a point person for SOM’s headquarter office in New York managing clients and monitoring project progress from SOM’s branch location in Abu Dhabi.  He collaborates with local partners, ensures projects obtain approvals and effectively manages the coordination process between the Architecture team and local consultants, while traveling to throughout the region as required.

Additionally, Mr. Whitney previously worked as a Designer for firms in Los Angeles, CA and in Honolulu, HI.  Mr. Whitney has taught as an Assistant Studio Professor at Columbia University in New York and given presentations in the Middle East on select SOM Projects and a range of other topics.

Mr. Whitney is a Registered Architect in the state of New York and a LEED Accredited Professional.  He holds a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University in New York and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and History from the University of California, Berkeley.

Tannar was AIA Middle East's 2015 President, and has previously held positions as AIA ME 2014 Vice-President and AIA ME 2013 Treasurer.

2014 Past President

Click here to e-mail

Loay holds a Master in Architecture degree from USC. He is one of the founding members of the Saudi Green Building Council, a part-time Instructor at Effat University, and a frequent critic at King Abdul-Aziz University.

Loay Quota, Has held the position of Country Representative for KSA and also Continuing Education Director at the AIA ME chapter and currently is a board member at the Saudi Umran Society, Jeddah Chapter.

Loay carries twenty years of experience in architecture and interior design in Saudi Arabia and the United States. Working as an architect in the United States and Saudi Arabia, his experience ranges through an array of building types both international and local; ranging from residential, educational, commercial buildings to institutional facilities.

In 2008, Loay founded his own architectural practice “Architectural Projections”, a firm based in Jeddah, KSA. In 2012 the Middle East Architects Awards shortlisted the firm for "The Best Boutique firm in the Middle East". Several projects by the firm have also won similar acclimations.

2013 President
Design Manager at Gulf Related

Click here to e-mail

A founding member of the AIA Middle East Board of Directors, Sherif has served as the Chapter's Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and was the 2013 President. In addition to his role on the Executive Committee as Vice President, Sherif is also the Fundraising Director. Recently Sherif served on the AIA International Board of Directors serving as the MENA Region Zone Director.

Working to foster stronger ties between the AIA, regional architects and governments in the MENA region, Sherif and the Board seek to foster an understanding of the differences in professional practices between the US and Middle East; promote US training and design approaches; facilitate international recognition of US professional architectural credentials; and foster communications between the AIA and its members who work and reside in the Middle East.

With a rich and diverse experience in the USA, London and the GCC, Sherif relocated to Abu Dhabi from Boston in 2008 and is actively involved in projects in both Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. With more than 24 years experience working in Architecture, Interior Design and Urban Planning, his work ranges from residential and commercial buildings to academic and institutional facilities, all of which possess the qualities that make any type of project successful, attractive, sustainable, and most importantly, livable. Sherif is also a member of the Boston Society of Architects and a registered licensed architect in the State of Massachusetts.

Mr. Anis received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University School of Architecture.

Founding President - 2011 & 2012
Design Advisor at Government of Qatar

Click here to e-mail

Thierry Paret, FAIA is an American Architect with 24 years of experience working for leading practices in the USA, Ireland, and the UAE. He has both won and been a finalist in International Architectural Design competitions. Thierry is a published architect who has worked on project types ranging from master planning to commercial, cultural, mixed-use, pharmaceutical, research, retail and residential. He founded the American Institute of Architects Chapter for the Middle East and North Africa and served as its first President from 2010 to 2012. He currently is the Director and Treasurer for the AIA International Region.

In 2014 the American Institute of Architects elevated Thierry Paret to its prestigious College of Fellows. This honor is bestowed to architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession.  

Thierry previously sat on the AIA National Membership Committee, AIA International Chapter Committee and the National Board Community Committee.  His leadership qualities in the profession are known both in the United States and the Middle East.

In 2012 Thierry Paret was honored to be listed as the 41st most influential person in the Middle East and North African construction industry by the Construction Week Magazine Power 100. That same year he was also voted the 16th most influential architect in the Middle East by Architect Middle East Magazine.

Mr. Paret is a registered architect in New York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Utah, the Republic of Ireland and is also a LEED accredited professional. He currently is a design advisor for the government of Qatar.