Emily Mottolese

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Managing Partner

Dubai

Education

Master of Architecture, University of Virginia Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture, University of Colorado at Boulder
Select Affiliations

Registered Architect: New York LEED Accredited Professional BD+C
Community Involvement Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Studio Dubai
Areas of Expertise Civic + Government, Commercial, Cultural, Higher Education, Hospitality, Interiors, Mixed Use, Residential

Emily's Details

Education

Master of Architecture, University of Virginia Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture, University of Colorado at Boulder
Select Affiliations

Registered Architect: New York LEED Accredited Professional BD+C
Community Involvement Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Studio Dubai
Areas of Expertise Civic + Government, Commercial, Cultural, Higher Education, Hospitality, Interiors, Mixed Use, Residential

Based in Dubai, Emily Mottolese leads SOM’s Middle East practice. At the outset of her career here, Emily identified MENA as a region where she could realize her architectural passion: to build cities from scratch, create new skylines, and transform the urban landscape through the marriage of ancient cultural heritage and modern technology. In 2017, she helped to establish SOM’s studio in Dubai, solidifying the firm’s presence in the region. She went on to reintroduce SOM in Tel Aviv in 2020, and in 2022, opened SOM’s Riyadh studio. In 2024, Emily relocated from New York to Dubai to be closer to key projects and partners, and continue to expand the firm’s footprint across the Middle East.

Today, she blends her expertise in design and management to deliver projects ranging from new construction and interiors to comprehensive master plans. Her recent projects include planning and design for a new, 4,000-person headquarters in Dubai, and Atélis in the Dubai Design District (d3), the flagship tower in a rapidly developing neighborhood along Dubai Creek. Both projects reflect the highest standards for wellness and sustainability, employing passive design strategies, connections to nature, and a careful reflection of their urban context.

Working in the Middle East requires agile solutions that respond to culture and climate—to shape cities that improve quality of life, forge connections between disparate communities, and contribute to a more sustainable world.

In Kuwait, Emily led two major development projects at Kuwait University—reenvisioning the heart of the campus through the creation of six new administrative buildings and designing an interconnected series of 10 structures for the university’s student activities and athletics facilities—including a large indoor tennis center and open-air stadium.

Emily has also played a defining role in the development of SOM’s Interiors studio, growing the practice through strategic vision and talent development and leading several prominent workplace design projects in New York. In this role, she was a key part of the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, a diplomatic building that reflects the traditions of Middle Eastern hospitality while harmonizing with its historic architectural context.