Dubai: The ‘House of the Future’ competition entered its second edition, announced by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation and the Sheikh Zayed Housing Program.
The initiative is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
The competition calls on architects and designers globally to create a cost-effective, expandable, and innovative house design that merges visual appeal with the flexibility to adapt to various landscapes across the UAE. The construction budget for each house is capped at AED 800,000 ($217,800).
Under their signed agreement, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation will oversee and coordinate the “House of the Future” competition alongside local and international partners.
Meanwhile, the Sheikh Zayed Housing Program will integrate chosen designs into future housing developments and offer technical and engineering support.
The Sheikh Zayed Housing Program will showcase the winning designs from the competition on its Darek platform, providing UAE citizens planning to build their own homes with options that reduce both costs and construction time.
This collaboration aims to advance the development and application of the House of the Future model, delivering sustainable, intelligent, and economical housing solutions for UAE residents. The competition is open for submissions until June 2, 2025.
On this occasion, Suhail bin Mohammed Faris Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, underscored the government’s commitment to fostering urban development through initiatives that promote sustainable and inclusive environments.
Al Mazrouei noted that the partnership between the Sheikh Zayed Housing Program and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation in organizing the House of the Future competition is designed to empower innovators and transform ideas into impactful projects that enrich the nation’s urban landscape.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, highlighted that the competition embodies the UAE’s vision to nurture talent and drive innovation. It aims to develop creative, sustainable urban solutions that enhance quality of life and strengthen infrastructure.
The House of the Future competition champions creativity, sustainability, and innovation, motivating architects worldwide to envision forward-thinking designs that align with modern Emirati lifestyles. This initiative emphasizes eco-friendly housing solutions that harmonize with the natural environment.
Now in its second year, the competition, organized in partnership with Buildner, has set specific standards. Entries must reflect the UAE’s cultural heritage, withstand environmental challenges, use sustainable materials, include at least three bedrooms, and allow for expansion—all within a construction budget of AED 800,000 ($217,800).
The prize for the competition’s winner is AED 500,000 ($136,100), with AED 200,000 ($54,400) for the runner-up and AED 100,000 ($27,200) for the second runner-up. Additionally, a special prize of AED 200,000 ($ 54,400) will be awarded for the most innovative design using sustainable materials.
The competition’s jury includes Charles Walker, Board Member of Zaha Hadid Architects; Micael Calatrava, CEO of Calatrava International LLC; Ahmed Bukhash, Chief Architect & Founder of ARCHIDENTITY; Will Plowman of Foster + Partners; Ben van Berkel, Founder of UNStudio; Alison Brooks of Alison Brooks Architects; and Bertrand Schippan of MVRDV.
The first edition, organized with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, drew significant global interest, with 3,500 innovative submissions from 140 countries, highlighting the importance of advancing urban design solutions that prioritize innovation, sustainability, and quality of life.