Architect and Landscape Urbanist Gary Gilson serves as the Vice President and Head of Design & Planning at Areem Plus. With a strong emphasis on innovation and sustainability, his expertise spans large-scale masterplanning and cutting-edge architectural solutions that respond thoughtfully to local context and environmental challenges. His design approach is driven by a vision for a sustainable future, with each project rooted in the cultural and ecological DNA of its location.

Gary’s diverse portfolio includes experience in private developments, academic campuses, sports complexes, cultural institutions, and public realm projects across the globe. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Gary Gilson Architects, a dynamic architecture studio based in Dubai. An alumnus of Foster + Partners in London under the leadership of Norman Foster, Gary refined his commitment to research-driven, high-quality design. His experience includes work at Balmori Associates in New York, as well as with two of India’s most renowned architectural practices: Sangath Vastu Shilpa Consultants and Stapati Architects. These experiences, alongside mentorships under Pritzker laureate Dr. Balkrishna Doshi and Ar. Tony Joseph has significantly shaped his tropical modernist and context-sensitive design philosophy.

Academically, Gary earned his master’s degree in Architecture cum laude from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, one of the world’s top architecture institutions. He received multiple accolades, including best thesis awards and academic excellence distinctions throughout both his undergraduate and graduate studies. Gary’s professional and academic journey has honed a nuanced understanding of spatial design as a medium to enrich human experience. At Areem Plus, he leads all aspects of design and company identity with a deep commitment to ‘genius loci’—the spirit of place— as well as the vision of the client and the team, ensuring each project and endeavour offers a meaningful experience while remaining grounded in practical execution, timelines, and resources.