Arab architects are making a mark at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia), with eight countries bringing fresh perspectives to one of the world’s biggest cultural stages. Qatar leads the way with Beyti Beytak – My Home is Your Home – its debut permanent pavilion that turns the idea of hospitality into architecture. Oman joins the Biennale for the first time too, transforming the traditional sablah, or gathering space, into a vision of modern community. Saudi Arabia i

Evolution of Islamic Architecture Islamic architecture evolved as a distinctive style beginning in the 7th century, reflecting the cultural and spiritual essence of the Islamic world. Rooted in Arab, Persian, Byzantine, and Sassanian influences, it flourished through the construction of grand mosques, palaces, and fortresses. Early Islamic structures, like the Dome of the Rock (691 CE) and the Great Mosque of Damascus (715 CE), introduced iconic elements such as domes, minarets, and ornate calli