Guggenheim Abu Dhabi presents City Circles, a public programme that explores the connections between architecture, the environment, and urban life.
Join us for the next talk in the series, The Museum as an Urban Anchor, which examines how museums operate within the urban fabric and influence the life of the city around them.
The discussion will explore how the placement, scale, and accessibility of cultural institutions shape movement, gathering, and public space. Looking beyond the museum as a standalone destination, the conversation considers how these institutions can become points of connection that encourage circulation, engagement, and community within their surrounding context.
Bringing together architects, urban planners, and researchers, the talk offers perspectives on the evolving relationship between culture and the city.
Rashed Ajlouni – Moderator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
Dr. Alamira Reem Al Hashimi
General Manager, Madar_39
Dr. Alamira Reem Al Hashimi is the General Manager of Madar_39, a place for creative entrepreneurs and emerging creative talent committed to developing their work as serious practice and enterprise. With a background spanning urban planning, design, heritage, and cultural strategy, she brings a rare cross-disciplinary perspective to her work. As the first Emirati woman to earn a PhD in urban planning, Alamira Reem is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing the UAE’s urban development and cultural landscape, including her acclaimed book Planning Abu Dhabi: An Urban History. Her career includes impactful advisory roles on government city planning and heritage initiatives, and she has served on numerous national committees and panels dedicated to architecture, urbanism, and design. She has been celebrated among the UAE’s most inspiring women for her contributions to the country’s cultural and urban evolution.
Dr. Ahmed Al Mulla
Urban Planner, Strategist, and Educator
Dr. Ahmed Al Mulla is an Emirati urban planner, strategist, and educator with over 18 years of experience shaping cities across government, consultancy, and academia. He currently serves as Associate Director of Planning at Miral, where he leads strategic urban development, cultural, and tourism initiatives across Yas Island. Ahmed is also Co-Founder and CEO of ARKAT, an urban planning and design consultancy focused on people-centered, evidence-based, and contextually grounded approaches. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to major city-shaping initiatives including the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Abu Dhabi 2040 Capital Urban Plan. He also teaches graduate-level urban planning courses and brings a strong interest in how culture, identity, and public institutions shape more livable and meaningful cities.
Fatma Al Khayat
Co-Founder and CEO, Arkat
Fatma Al Khayat is the co-founder and CEO of Arkat, the first region-born urban planning and design firm. With over a decade of experience in transformative projects across Hong Kong, Dubai, Zurich, and London, she specializes in innovative, human-centered strategies for creating sustainable and inclusive urban spaces. Holding a Master’s in City Design from the Royal College of Art, Fatma integrates environmental psychology and biophilic research to enhance urban livability. She focuses on urban governance, strategic planning, and community engagement, using a data-driven approach to tackle complex urban challenges and deliver impactful outcomes.
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