“A Day in the Life” allows you to step into the shoes of a UAE resident to experience a typical 24 hours in their work and home life
The UAE’s skyline is one of the most recognisable in the world, thanks to the work of visionary leaders and bold architects such as Philip Gillard.
Mr Gillard, 52, from the UK, has spent more than 20 years transforming Middle Eastern cityscapes, working with royalty and governments to develop revolutionary projects including Dubai’s prestigious DIFC.
Last month, he took the reins at global architectural firm Arquitectonica, overseeing ambitious ventures including Mr. C Residences Jumeirah in Dubai Water Canal and the 71-storey Aire Tower in Al Wasl, Jumeirah.
Elsewhere in the region, Arquitectonica’s works include the master planning for Lulu Island and Al Manhal District in Abu Dhabi, as well as the DenizBank headquarters in Istanbul, the Plus Towers in Beirut and five luxury towers in Jeddah.
Here, The National joins Mr Gillard at the firm’s new Dubai headquarters in D3 to see what goes into building the world’s most futuristic cities.
8am: The morning commute
Mr Gillard heads to the office early, snaking through Dubai’s skyscrapers during a morning commute far removed from his modest upbringing in Bristol, a dockside city in the UK.
“We grew up in a very humble council estate and I left school at 16 to become a junior draftsman at a glass facades company,” he says.
“I had always been interested in design but no one from my school or family had ever been to university so it wasn't on our radar.”
As part of his role, Mr Gillard attended college one evening a week, where he was encouraged to enrol on a formal architecture course.
After excelling in his studies, he was granted a scholarship for a master’s degree in Oklahoma, before graduating from the Architectural Association in London.
“That was the start of seeing the world,” says Mr Gillard. “Architecture transcends concepts, society and culture, and now I've done projects all around the globe, from South America to the Middle East.”
10am: A whole new world
Mr Gillard began working in the region in 2001, becoming part of a vision that would transform the UAE from a desertscape into a thriving modern metropolis.
“Even in that short space of time, the country has matured and grown massively,” he says. “The first project I was involved in was DIFC and back then there was nothing really on Sheikh Zayed Road apart from the Dusit Thani Hotel.
“It’s a great time to be an architect or a designer out here and a fantastic opportunity to get a lot of experience very fast.”
While working in the Middle East, Mr Gillard has had the privilege of meeting Queen Elizabeth II, the Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to discuss various projects.
Now, he is building on his previous experience to further develop the region’s cityscapes, and once the day’s agenda has been set, Mr Gillard often heads on-site to oversee projects in person.
“Often I’ll head to the Mr. C building or visit a new project site,” he says. “Our work isn't just changing people's lives from a financial perspective, but helping them develop their country to make it better for their population. It’s a privilege.”
1pm: Unleashing creativity
At lunchtime, Mr Gillard steps away from the screen to dust off his sketchpad and let the ideas flow.
“There's always a million things going on but we're still being creative, even when we're talking about the logistics of a project,” he says.
“There are always the responsibilities of running offices and looking after clients but at the same time we're architects because we love design and I think clients appreciate the fact that we don't just hand it off to someone else.
“We're giving life to other people's ideas and when you see their vision come alive and you know you've nailed it, it's tremendously rewarding.”
4pm: Nurturing future visionaries
An important part of Mr Gillard’s role is guiding junior colleagues and after meeting clients in the afternoon, he tries to dedicate some time to nurturing the workforce.
“We have a young team so I’m mindful that we need to educate them but also have a laugh,” he says.
“Architecture can be a very corporate profession but it doesn't need to be and the more fun we have, the better our process becomes because everyone buys into wanting to do better.
“It doesn't matter whether it's a small project or planning a city – everything is a design opportunity to learn from and make the world a better place.”
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
More from our neighbourhood series:
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The National selections
Al Ain
5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura
7pm: AF Arrab
7.30pm: Al Jazi
8pm: Futoon
Jebel Ali
1.45pm: AF Kal Noor
2.15pm: Galaxy Road
2.45pm: Dark Thunder
3.15pm: Inverleigh
3.45pm: Bawaasil
4.15pm: Initial
4.45pm: Tafaakhor
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Sri Lanka World Cup squad
Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
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If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
