Farah Sabobeh is an architect turned culture & design strategist specialized in developing unique & diverse projects in the fields of culture, diplomacy & design; locally & internationally.
— led by curiosity; passionate about design thinking & impacting communities through design.
∞ Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to work with creatives from different walks of life & around the world — to tell stories, create designs, develop strategies & curate experiences.
— As one of the Office of Public & Cultural Diplomacy’s founding team members, I helped establish & build a vital diplomatic apparatus on which UAE’s missions internationally depend. I played a role in designing the OPCD strategy in support of the UAE’s cultural & public diplomacy efforts. Moreover, I oversaw the ideation, curation & development of OPCD’s cultural programming which resulted in a 12 program initiative for which I have engaged international partnering entities & opportunities for collaboration. Throughout my time in MOFAIC, I was privileged to work for & alongside Minister of State His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh & Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs His Excellency Omar Saif Ghobash, to whom I am deeply indebted.
+ My latest endeavour includes co-producing & co-hosting a discourse series on design, alongside Alya Al Noaimi. Hosted by ATÖLYE Dubai, Negative Space is a fearless exploration into the conversations we are not having around Arab identity in contemporary design. Featuring regional creative leaders, scholars & thinkers, it challenges our roles in shaping a collective cultural identity, paying close attention to what’s missing & imagining what could be.
+education
2019 Masters in Strategic Design of Spaces (M.SD) IE University - Madrid, Spain
2018 The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design Royal College of Art - London, UK
2014 Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) American University in Dubai - UAE
2009 Design Foundations Program American University of Sharjah - UAE
2008 Al Mawakeb School - Dubai, UAE
+work experience
2023-present Strategist - Manager of Strategic Initiatives
The National Projects Office of The Presidential Court
Abu Dhabi, UAE
2020-present Independent Consultant & Design Strategist
Cultural Programmer | Co-producer and Co-host of Negative Space
ATÖLYE - Dubai, UAE
2018-2020 Cultural Public Programmer
Office of Public & Cultural Diplomacy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation - Abu Dhabi, UAE
2016-2018 Education Department Manager & Content Curator
Brownbook - Cultural Engineering - Dubai, UAE
2015 Architect
NORR Group Consultant
International - Dubai, UAE
2014 Architect
XYZ Designers - UAE
Archidentity - Dubai, UAE
2013 Busan International
Architectural Festival - South Korea
2012 Elastic Atmospheres
Faulders Studio - USA
2011 Building Typology Collage Stiftung
Bauhaus Dessau - Germany
Flex Form
Faulders Studio - USA
+notable projects & publications
2020 OPCD 2 Year Book
2019-2018 Norway-UAE: +40 Years of Culture
MESH - Norway
2018 Year of Zayed Commemorations Mudun, Urban Cultures in Transit Exhibition
Architectural Association - UK
2017 Mudun, Urban Cultures in Transit Exhibition
Vitra Design Museum - Germany
Stories from the UAE Publication
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
& International Cooperation - UAE
Secret Life of Date Palms Publication
Archizoom EPFL - Switzerland
Dubai, Creative City of Design Application
Dubai, UAE
UN Creative Cities Network
Dubai, UAE
2016 Binary States India UAE Exhibition
Kochi Muziris Biennale - India
Al Falaj: Water Systems of the Gulf’s Oases Exhibition London Design Biennale
London, UK
Uncovering the UAE’s Cultural Fabric Publication Dubai Expo 2020
Dubai, UAE
Sha’abi Houses Publication
Venice Architecture Biennale - Italy
+awards & membership
2019 Valedictorian
Best Final Thesis Award
Honourable Student Award
2015 AIA Middle East Commendation in Design Award
2015 Student Leadership Award Architecture Showcase Award
2014 AIAS Dubai Chapter Student Leadership Award
2008 Valedictorian
President’s Shield Award
2007 DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) Proficiency Certifications
+competencies
Languages Fluent in Arabic, English and French
Skills Strategic design, research, content development & curation, workplace consultation, design thinking, cultural diplomacy
Interests Problem solving by design, community building, developing unique and diverse projects that span a wide range of disciplines locally & internationally