With over 40 years of architectural expertise rooted in the Middle East, Safwat Ghaly brings unparalleled insight and vision to every project. His extensive experience includes 26 years as Senior Director for Architecture at Khatib & Alami, during which he played a pivotal role in shaping the iconic skylines of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. His diverse portfolio spans residential, hospitality, commercial, retail, and specialized institutional projects.
Safwat’s innovative approach pushes design boundaries while maintaining a commitment to functionality, sustainability, and efficiency. By optimizing architectural design, he ensures projects not only achieve aesthetic and operational excellence but also enhance feasibility and deliver lasting value.
Guided by a passion for design and an unwavering dedication to excellence, Safwat continues to influence and inspire, offering a wealth of expertise to create architecture that leaves a lasting impact.
Spearheading designs that have generated immense economic and cultural impact across the region.
“I have known Mr. SAFWAT GHALY for more than 30 years while working in K&A. He is well known for his Serious Character and as a Hardworking Proficient who has demonstrated his Design Brilliance, and has always been available for any project’s assignment or challenges and never failed us down. I will never forget an incident at a time I was a project manager for high-rise tower with a very demanding private client who was not accepting any concept proposals even after 4 months of continuous submission and had almost lost the client till Mr. Safwat was called for immediate intervention! Believe it or not, he came back with an impressive, unique design in exactly 3 days and a half that had brought client’s full appreciation on which we received his approval on the spot! I also recall another incident that I have witnessed his Professional Brilliance, for a VIP client (ruler family) in Bahrain where he received first time approval for a mixed use development consisting of a shopping mall, residential/ commercial tower and car showrooms. The client was very much impressed and appreciated K&A works and the outstanding performance of Mr. Safwat. Mr. Safwat has the unique ability to understand and read the clients’ minds which he performs well and receives 1st time approval and in a limited period of time! I believe he must be proud of our many remarkable achievements including Fairmount, Dusit Thani, Al Habtoor City, and many others, where he has played vital role in K&A triumphs. Mr. Safwat will be great loss not only to K&A, but also to our clients. He will definitely be missed!”
“I know Safwat since his employment date at K&A. He is a colleague and a friend, therefore our relationship -that I am proud of- will continue. Safwat is a talented, creative and productive architect, who won most of the architectural competitions/projects that he worked on and he led successfully the concept design section and the architecture department for years. As he is sadly leaving K&A, I wish him all the success in his plans and wish K&A to continue with its success journey.”
“ I have known Mr. Safwat since my employment at K&A in 2014, during which time I am been consistently amazed by his sheer grit, passion to design, efficient planning, commitment and ability to create quality architectural designs within the shortest possible time. Clients in todays times always request more within less time, he is one Architect who has mastered the art of satisfying all their demands within a short time span. My interaction with him has been extremely close during my early days at office, wherein he was very supportive in allowing me to settle into the job, which due to my various responsibilities over the time reduced. I have learnt a lot from his guidance, advice and will continue to cherish those in my life. Very few Architects get the opportunity to shape a city in their lifetime, Mr. Safwat given that responsibility has achieved those heights in the world of architecture that very few renowned architects have been able to reach. His contribution in this field dominates the Dubai and Abudhabi skyline in particular. I will immensely miss him at work but will surely continue our friendship beyond here. I wish you further more success and good health.”
“Dear Mr. Ghaly, You are a true Artist, true professional, and a true Gentleman. It is rarely that such attributes exist in one person. We will all miss such person. We will miss you. God be with you in your new journey.”
“It’s very sad to hear that you are leaving K&A, your contribution to this organization is well known and can be seen across all UAE, we will remember you every time we pass across any of these projects. Working with you for the past 25 years was wonderful and full of challenges that will be kept on our memories. We all wish you a great success and good luck with your future endeavors.”
“Besides being a creative architect, Mr. Safwat is also not just a manager but a leader and also not an ordinary leader but a real leader from whom you learn a lot. At work, you feel that he knows nothing but hard work, but outside work, he is a brother and friend that you enjoy talking to and sharing your thoughts, and sometimes your worries, to benefit from his life experience as well. Our condolences on the departure of Eng. Safwat from his position in the K&A is that we will always be in contact with him.”
“I have worked together with Safwat since years ago on many successful projects, and I saw for myself the satisfaction of Clients with his appreciated performance, wishing him all the best and continued success.”
