Nadia Bakhurji
Nadia Bakhurji | |
|---|---|
نادية بخرجي | |
| Born | |
| Education | King Faisal University (BSc, 1989) |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | Chevening Fellowship (2006) Arab Women's Excellence Award (2012) International QC100 Gold Quality Crown Award (2014) |
| Buildings | Kingdom Hospital (interior), Prince Al Waleed private palace, Kingdom City Compound |
| Projects | Jizan Ceremonial Inauguration Exhibition (2005) |
Nadia H. Bakhurji is a Saudi architect and businessperson.[1]
Career and education
Bakhurji gained her BSC in Interior Architecture from King Faisal University in 1989.[2] She established the company Riwaq of the Kingdom Est (ROK).[3] In 2007, she founded Nadia Bakhurji Architectural and Interior Design Consultants in Riyadh.[1]
Women's rights activism
Bakhurji has advocated for allowing Saudi women to drive.[4]
She was a founding board member for the Arab International Women's Forum in 2000. She became the first Saudi woman to register as candidate for the Riyadh Local Municipality elections, in 2004,[3] which was subsequently "nullified by Saudi officials"[5] when women's suffrage was banned in Saudi Arabia.[6] In 2009, Nadia challenged the decision of permitting women to participate in the Saudi city council elections of 2009, which women were usually excluded from. As of 2009, six women including Nadia came forward as candidates with the support of striking women's right activist and campaigner, Hatoon al-Fassi.[7]
Awards and honors
Bakhurji's professional contributions to regional architecture and engineering have been recognized through several international and institutional awards. In 2006, she was awarded the prestigious Chevening Fellowship to study in the United Kingdom.[8] Her industry impact was further acknowledged in 2012 when she received an engineering and architecture prize at the 11th Middle East Women Leaders Awards in Dubai.[9]
Her architectural practice, NBA, has also earned distinct professional recognition. In 2014, the firm was presented with the International Quality Crown (QC100) Gold Award in London for maintaining high corporate standards.[10] Additionally, the Federation of Arab Engineers honored her in Bahrain with the Outstanding Arab Women Engineer Award for design excellence.[10]
Personal life
Bakhurji is the eldest of the 7 siblings.
References
- 1 2 "Saudi Female Architects Redefine the Kingdom One Building at A Time". abouther.com. Saudi Research and Publishing Company. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ↑ Mirza, Mohammed (2018-03-04). "The story behind Saudi Arabia's most famous female architect". StepFeed. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- 1 2 "Power List 500". Arabian Business. 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ↑ Saleh, Heba (2007). "Barrier of silence has been broken: [SURVEYS EDITION]". Financial Times; London (UK).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: miscellaneous url (link) - ↑ "Saudi Women To Receive Right To Vote — In 2015". npr.org. National Public Radio. September 26, 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ↑ "Saudi Women Barred From Voting". CBS News. CBS. October 12, 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ↑ Walter, Natasha (2005-02-05). "Veiled hopes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ↑ "Nadia Bakhurji Speaker Profile". United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III). October 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Saudi Arabia's first female architect wins ME Women Leader Award". Middle East Construction News. March 12, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- 1 2 "NBA Design Studio - Accolades and Timeline". Nadia Bakhurji Architectural and Interior Design Consultants. Retrieved May 15, 2026.