Turkish architecture, with its sun-baked stone of Seljuk caravanserais reaching to the soaring domes of Ottoman mosques, offers a legacy as rich and layered as the empire that shaped it. Tracing its roots to the 11th century, it draws influence from Byzantine, Persian, and Arab traditions, but achieved its fullest expression during the Ottoman era. Refined under the genius of Mimar Sinan in the 16th century, classical Ottoman architecture adopted grand central domes, cascading semi-domes, slender minarets, and interiors dressed in hand-painted Iznik tiles and marble.
Over centuries, these elements evolved, resurfacing in 19th-century revivalist forms and, more recently, in sleek contemporary interpretations. Yet through every iteration, be it imperial or modern, the architectural language has remained purely Turkish: ornate, harmonious, and exquisitely detailed. Today, its influence is not confined to Istanbul or Ankara. Still, it resonates across international design hubs, including Dubai. The echoes of this timeless style are increasingly visible in high-end residential and cultural projects.
Before exploring the landmarks that carry the imprint of Turkish architecture in Dubai, it’s worth pausing to understand the creative minds and enduring styles behind this legacy.
Key Architects
The identity of classical Turkish architecture begins with Mimar Sinan, the 16th-century imperial architect whose influence is still visible across the Turkish skyline. Sinan, who was tasked with building for sultans, developed an innovative use of a central dome, supported by half-domes and reinforced with buttresses, all framed by tall pencil minarets which has defined the ottoman classical style, His work on mosques such as the Şehzade, Süleymaniye, and Selimiye reflects how structures are deeply symbolic with balanced geometry and spiritual scale.
Centuries later, that legacy found continuity through modern architects who brought Turkish design into the contemporary era. Hayati Tabanlıoğlu, who in the 1950s introduced Turkey’s first opera house and shopping mall, laid the foundation for a new generation. His son and daughter, Murat and Melkan Tabanlıoğlu, now lead the firm and have reinterpreted those architectural traditions in projects such as the Istanbul Sapphire Tower and Istanbul Modern. Their expansion into international markets, including Dubai, has introduced Turkish design to new cultural settings.
Another figure shaping the current architectural narrative is Emre Arolat, co-founder of EAA in 2004. Arolat, who is known for a minimalist approach, blends traditional Turkish design elements within urban contexts. His works include the Sancaklar Mosque and Zorlu Center. With Architects like Cem Kapancıoğlu, founder of CK Architecture Interiors, the influence of Turkish design is increasingly visible in Dubai. Cem was trained at Istanbul’s Mimar Sinan University and has worked extensively in both Turkey and the UAE. His practice focuses on high-end residential and hospitality projects, particularly on the Palm Jumeirah.
Signature Styles
In terms of style, Turkish architecture is not bound to a single style; it is a progression that evolved through successive eras. One of the clearest expressions of this progression is the Ottoman classical tradition, developed during Sinan’s tenure, which introduced design principles that would go on to define religious and civic architecture for centuries. It revolved around vast domed interiors and harmonious proportions, with courtyards often lined with arcades. Inside, surfaces were brought to life through Iznik tilework, carved wood ceilings, and calligraphic detailing for a touch that is as aesthetic as educational.
Before this, the Seljuk period had already established a visual language of its own. They built with dressed stone and focused their ornamentation on monumental portals, tall, intricately carved entrances bearing geometric patterns and Kufic inscriptions. These structures, which included caravanserais, mosques, and madrasas, often used columned halls and domes internally, serving as an interior continuation of the outer façade.
Today, Contemporary Turkish buildings of all types are increasingly constructed from steel, glass, and concrete. Yet beneath the modern materials lies a structural and spatial logic that still echoes Ottoman courtyards or Seljuk geometry.
Turkish Influence in Dubai Projects
The Royal Villas at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
This project stands as one of the finest realisations of Turkish-inspired design on foreign shores. These exclusive beachfront residences, located along the western crescent of Palm Jumeirah, form part of the iconic Jumeirah Zabeel Saray resort and often seen as the majesty of the Ottoman golden age through design.
Features like hand-laid Iznik tiles, bespoke Turkish marble, and intricately carved dark wood ceilings exist in every villa, reminiscent of Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace. Domed interiors, private hammams, and expansive terraces overlooking the Arabian Gulf offer that charming blend of Ottoman design heritage and modern luxury of Dubai.
Turkish master craftsmen were commissioned to realise every detail, from calligraphic friezes to custom chandeliers, which together lend each home an authentic sense of place. The Royal Villas fuse Turkish architecture with five-star resort living, providing private access to world-class amenities including Talise Ottoman Spa and a private beachfront.
Al Fattan Crystal Towers
These two crystalline towers, designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects, rise prominently along Jumeirah Beach Residence. The complex includes the Rixos Premium Dubai Hotel and retail areas. The façade design and sharp angles evoke modernist interpretations of Ottoman clarity; it reflects a balance between minimalism and cultural undertones.
HuQQa at Dubai Mall
Designed by Pinnacle Interiors in collaboration with G4 Group (Turkish designers), HuQQa blends Turkish culinary and visual traditions in a high-end dining environment. The venue includes arched motifs, textured walls, and warm, ambient lighting, which are hallmarks of Ottoman interiors reimagined for a cosmopolitan setting.
Dubai Design District (d3)
Tabanlıoğlu Architects also contributed to Dubai Design District’s evolution. Their project integrates galleries, studios, and retail units into a single cohesive design. The modularity and spatial layering mirror traditional bazaars and courtyards, while the structure’s flow respects Turkish planning sensibilities.
Conclusion
Turkish architecture, a lineage stretching from the domes of Edirne to the stone portals of Konya, is built on centuries of refinement, symbolism, and regional mastery. In Dubai, this legacy finds new ground.
Integrating Ottoman elegance and Anatolian craftsmanship into Dubai’s landscape increases the city’s global architectural approach. Famous Turkish firms have left a visible imprint on the city, from spiritual landmarks like the Sharjah Mosque to sculptural towers and curated residential enclaves.
Their work resonates because it bridges the past and the present, as Murat Tabanlıoğlu reflected: “Architecture is not about imposing shapes but about carrying memory into the future.”
The presence of Ottoman-influenced motifs across Dubai’s high-end villas and public landmarks, like domed ceilings, echoes the celestial symbolism of Ottoman mosque architecture and patterned tilework, particularly Iznik designs. These details were once used to convey Quranic verses and imperial narratives, to bring centuries of artistic and spiritual tradition into contemporary space.
