YAS Architecture Award for Women Architects

Inaugural Year: Middle East + China

Introduction

The YAS Architecture Award for Women Architects is created and presented by Stephen Yas, AIA, RIBA, NCARB, an internationally recognized Architect and Urban Designer with over 50 years of professional experience. Mr. Yas is the Managing Director – USA and Global Design Leader at NOVO Architects LLC. Throughout his career, he has been committed to advancing architectural excellence, cultural responsibility, and design leadership across diverse global contexts. This award reflects that commitment by recognizing and supporting outstanding work by women architects whose projects meaningfully engage culture, place, and the emotional experience of the built environment.

Award Description

The YAS Architecture Award for Women Architects is an annual international award established to recognize excellence in architectural design by women architects.

The inaugural year of the award is dedicated to women architects from the Middle East and China. Future editions of the award may expand to additional regions.

The award honors modern architectural projects—built or unbuilt—that demonstrate a strong and authentic relationship to culture, place, and context, and that thoughtfully engage the emotional and human experience of physical space. Submissions should reflect contemporary architectural expression while remaining grounded in local identity, climate, social conditions, and community life.

The award seeks to promote design leadership by women architects and to highlight work that contributes meaningfully to the cultural, social, and spatial quality of the built environment.

Eligibility

• Open to women architects who are:

  • Licensed architects

  • Based in, working in, or originating from the Middle East and China (in the inaugural year)

• Eligible projects may be:

  • Built projects completed within the past five (5) years

  • Unbuilt, conceptual, or competition projects

• All building types and scales are eligible.

Collaborative projects are eligible, provided the lead designer or principal author is a woman architect.

Evaluation Criteria

Projects will be evaluated by an independent jury based on:

1. Cultural and contextual response

2. Emotional and experiential quality

3. Architectural design excellence

4. Innovation and contemporary expression

5. Social and environmental responsibility

Submission Requirements

All submissions must be in English and submitted digitally.

Required Materials

1. Project Information (PDF)

   • Project title

   • Architect / designer name(s)

   • Firm or independent practice (if applicable)

   • Project location

   • Year of design and/or completion

   • Project status (built or unbuilt)

2. Project Narrative (maximum 1,000 words)

   • Design concept and intent

   • Relationship to culture, place, and context

   • Emotional and experiential qualities

   • Material, climatic, and environmental strategies

3. Visual Material

   • Up to 10 images including plans, sections, elevations, and photographs or renderings

   • Images must be high resolution and clearly labeled

4. Architect Statement (maximum 300 words)

5. Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)

Submission Schedule

• Call for Submissions Opens: 15 February 2026

• Submission Deadline: 15 April 2026

• Jury Review: 16 – 28 April 2026

• Award Notification to Winner: 1 May 2026

• Public Announcement and Press Release: 7 May 2026

All announcements and press releases will be issued by MIE Events DMCC.

Registration Fee

A non-refundable registration fee of USD $200 per submission is required.

• Payment must be made digitally.

• All registration fees shall be processed and received by MIE Events DMCC.

• Submissions will not be reviewed until payment confirmation has been received.

Applicants are responsible for any applicable transaction or bank processing fees.

Award Recognition

• One YAS Architecture Award for Women Architects will be presented annually.

• The award includes:

  • Official award citation

  • Publication and promotion of the winning project

  • Media coverage coordinated by MIE Events DMCC

  • Opportunities for participation in related exhibitions or discussions

Contact: Mrs. Mavis Yao

Mr. Stephen Yas 

T: +86 13818725813

WhatsApp: +86 13818725813   
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