UOB Architecture Students Win Prizes at “Sustainable Real Estate Development” Hackathon in Kuwait

Students from the Department of Architecture and Interior Design at the College of Engineering, University of Bahrain (UOB), secured first and third place among Gulf student teams participating in the “Sustainable Real Estate Development” Hackathon. The event was organized by Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare during the third Gulf Housing Week (18–22 May 2025), which saw wide participation from top architecture students across GCC universities.

The “IRTH” team, featuring student Fatima Al-Sayed Hassan Al-Alawi, claimed first place, while the team including Mustafa Ahmed Al-Kooheji earned third place, an outstanding achievement showcasing the talent and excellence of UOB students.

The competition presented an architectural challenge to design Saad Al Abdullah City in Jahra Governorate as a modern, integrated urban city comprising residential zones, public services, and commercial and investment areas. Participants tackled a critical environmental challenge: the project’s location between industrial and residential areas, exposing it to pollution. This demanded innovative, sustainable design solutions to address the issue.

Additionally, teams were tasked with creating a unified architectural symbol representing the Arab Gulf nations, which would form part of the city’s identity. The symbol was intended for replication in other Gulf cities, reflecting the shared urban identity of the GCC.

Other participating students included: Khalid Osama Al-Khaja, Samana Al-Sayed Sadiq Adnan, and Maha Munawar Al-Shammari. The team was supervised by Dr. Fatema Ahmed Al Hammadi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design, College of Engineering, UOB, who provided guidance and support throughout the competition.

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