Khatib and Alami

Khatib and Alami, commonly known as K&A, is an international multidisciplinary consultancy founded in Lebanon in February 1964 by Prof. Mounir Khatib and Dr. Zuheir Alami. The firm began as an engineering and design practice and developed into a broad professional-services organization supporting major public and private-sector development programs. Its work spans architecture, engineering, urban and regional planning, transportation, water and environmental engineering, power and renewable energy, geotechnical and civil engineering, oil and gas, program management, and digital solutions. The company’s growth has been closely associated with the expansion of infrastructure and urban development across the Middle East. During the 1980s, K&A established or expanded operations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain. By the early 1990s, its geographic presence had extended to markets including Iraq, Belgium, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. In more recent years, the firm has pursued work in African markets as well, giving it a presence across several continents. K&A operates through a network of approximately 28 offices and employs more than 6,000 professionals, according to the cited reference material. Its holding company is based in Singapore, while Beirut and Riyadh serve as regional headquarters and Dubai hosts an executive office. This structure reflects the firm’s historical base in the Arab world alongside its international project platform. The consultancy has contributed to large-scale transportation systems, masterplans, public utilities, housing programs, and other infrastructure initiatives. Its services increasingly combine conventional engineering and architecture with program management, geographic information systems, building information modelling, and other digital capabilities. The firm’s positioning is therefore that of an integrated consultancy capable of supporting projects from planning and design through implementation and infrastructure management. K&A has received professional recognition for both design and technology-related work. The reference material identifies a 2020 Consultant of the Year award at the Innovation in Construction & FM Awards, a 2022 BIM Organisation of the Year award at the Construction Technology Awards, and infrastructure-management and GIS awards in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, it was recognized for digital transformation and received an engineering consultancy award in Egypt. Its Saudi Arabian operations were also certified as a Great Place to Work in 2025. Engineering News-Record ranked the firm among the Top 50 International Design Firms and among the Top 10 in the Middle East in 2023.

Khatib and Alami was established in Lebanon in February 1964 by Prof. Mounir Khatib and Dr. Zuheir Alami. The founders created a professional practice focused on engineering and design at a time when demand for organized technical consultancy was increasing across the region. Over time, the firm expanded beyond conventional engineering into architecture, planning, transportation, utilities, environmental services, and project delivery. The company’s regional expansion accelerated during the 1980s. It developed operations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain, positioning itself to participate in the large infrastructure and urban-development programs taking shape across the Gulf. During the early 1990s, K&A added activity in further markets, including Iraq, Belgium, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. This expansion broadened the firm’s experience across different regulatory, geographic, and economic environments. In later decades, K&A extended its work into African markets and continued to develop a multi-office international platform. Its portfolio came to include transportation networks, urban and regional masterplans, public utilities, housing-related programs, environmental systems, and other complex infrastructure initiatives. The firm also added program-management capabilities, allowing it to support clients beyond the preparation of designs and technical studies. Digital technologies became an increasingly important part of the consultancy’s offering. BIM, GIS, utility-network implementation, and infrastructure-management tools complemented the firm’s architecture, engineering, and planning disciplines. This combination enabled K&A to present itself as an integrated partner for major public-sector and development programs rather than as a narrowly specialized design office. In 2017, Dr. Najib Khatib was elected chairman of the board. The company reported several significant developments under his leadership in 2020, including an extension of its largest program-management-office project in Saudi Arabia and the renewal of contracts with Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Ministry of Housing. These developments reinforced K&A’s role in long-duration infrastructure and development programs in the Kingdom. The firm’s international profile was reflected in Engineering News-Record’s 2023 rankings, which placed it among the Top 50 International Design Firms and the Top 10 in the Middle East. K&A also received recognition for innovation, BIM, GIS, and digital transformation. Awards cited for 2020 through 2025 include Consultant of the Year, BIM Organisation of the Year, infrastructure-management and GIS awards, Digital Transformation of the Year, and Engineering Consultancy Firm of the Year. In 2025, its Saudi operations were also certified as a Great Place to Work. The holding company is based in Singapore, with regional headquarters in Beirut and Riyadh and an executive office in Dubai. The cited material describes a network of 28 offices and a workforce exceeding 6,000 professionals. K&A remains an active international consultancy serving architecture, engineering, planning, infrastructure, energy, environmental, and digital-technology needs.

• 2023

  International design-firm ranking

  [1]Khatib and Alamien.wikipedia.org

  Engineering News-Record ranked K&A among the Top 50 International Design Firms and the Top 10 in the Middle East.

• 2020

  Saudi program and contract milestones

  [1]Khatib and Alamien.wikipedia.org

  The firm marked an extension of its largest Saudi program-management-office project and renewed contracts with Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Ministry of Housing.

• 2017

  Najib Khatib elected board chairman

  [1]Khatib and Alamien.wikipedia.org

  Dr. Najib Khatib was elected chairman of the board of directors.

• 1990

  Expansion beyond the Gulf

  [1]Khatib and Alamien.wikipedia.org

  By the early 1990s, K&A had extended its presence to markets including Iraq, Belgium, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.

• 1980

  Regional Gulf expansion

  [1]Khatib and Alamien.wikipedia.org

  During the 1980s, the firm expanded its regional operations into Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain.

• 1964

  Khatib and Alami founded in Lebanon

  [1]Khatib and Alamien.wikipedia.org

  Prof. Mounir Khatib and Dr. Zuheir Alami established the consultancy in February 1964.

An international, multidisciplinary professional-services firm combining architecture, engineering, planning, program management, and digital infrastructure capabilities for complex development and public-sector projects.

• Architecture

  Architecture and building design

  Architectural design and related consultancy for buildings and development programs, delivered within the firm's broader multidisciplinary planning and engineering platform.

• Transportation engineering

  Transportation systems

  Planning and engineering services for transportation systems and mobility infrastructure, including work associated with large-scale urban and regional development.

• Planning

  Urban and regional planning

  Masterplanning and urban or regional development advice for public authorities and private developers, integrating land use, infrastructure, mobility, and environmental considerations.

• Environmental infrastructure

  Water and environmental engineering

  Technical consultancy covering water systems, public utilities, and environmental engineering for infrastructure and development projects.

• Digital engineering

  Digital infrastructure solutions

  Digital services involving BIM, GIS, utility-network implementation, infrastructure management, and related technologies that support the planning, delivery, and operation of assets.

• 2020

  Extension and renewal of Saudi engagementsOther

  Background

  K&A was involved in long-term Saudi development and infrastructure work.

  Action taken

  The firm extended its largest program-management-office project in Saudi Arabia and renewed contracts with Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Ministry of Housing.

  Aftermath

  These developments supported the firm's continuing role in major Saudi infrastructure and housing programs.

  Source

• 2017

  Leadership transition to Najib KhatibStrategy

  Background

  The firm continued its international and multidisciplinary development as its office network and project portfolio expanded.

  Action taken

  Dr. Najib Khatib was elected chairman of the board of directors.

  Aftermath

  The cited material associates the subsequent period with major Saudi program-management and contract milestones in 2020.

  Source

1. 1Khatib and Alamien.wikipedia.org