(MENAFN – Mid-East Info) The 12th edition of the Light Middle East Awards recognizes lighting projects, products and partnerships that set benchmarks for excellence regionally and globally. Finalists include international cultural monuments and iconic regional projects, as well as innovative indoor, outdoor, decorative and smart lighting products. The Light Middle East Awards are judged by an international jury of 34 renowned experts from nine countries. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Light Middle East Awards, the region's most prestigious award for lighting excellence, has announced the finalists for the 12th edition of the awards ceremony, which will take place on January 14 at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai. The annual ceremony is considered the largest and most influential awards platform for the lighting industry in the Middle East, recognizing exceptional projects, products, companies and individuals that have redefined lighting in the Middle East region and internationally. This year's awards include three overarching categories, including Project of the Year, Product of the Year and Partner of the Year, with subcategories highlighting the industry's most groundbreaking work in indoor, outdoor, decorative and smart lighting solutions. “The Light Middle East Awards continue to set the benchmark for lighting excellence,” said Abdul Muhsin, Show Director for Light + Intelligent Building Middle East. “Every year we see projects and products that push the boundaries of design, technology and creativity – both regionally and internationally. The exceptional quality of the submissions and the expertise of our international jury are crucial to the continued growth and prestige of the awards.” The MEA Project of the Year category recognizes the best architectural lighting design for a completed project in the Middle East. Finalists include some of the region's most iconic developments, heritage sites and hospitality destinations. These include the Grand Egyptian Museum; Tête à Tête, Ronin and Paradiso at Five Luxe JBR; Sumosan Bahrain; Studio Frantzen; Shebara Resort; Revolver Dubai; Queen Hatshepsut – a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Mama Shelter; Maison Revka; KIRA Restaurant and LITT Bar; Desert Rock Resort; the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi; Bab Al Shams Spa; Avli from Tashas in Bahrain; Majid Al Futtaim Mosque in Tilal Al Ghaf Dubai and Mausam in Dubai Mall. Judge Michael Grubb, founder of Michael Grubb Studio, highlights the importance of lighting in the Middle East region: “Light has deep-rooted cultural and social significance in the Middle East, where many aspects of life take place after dark. As such, thoughtfully designed and inspiring lighting concepts have long been a priority for projects across the region. By recognizing excellence in lighting design, the awards promote both the people behind the work and the industry as a whole.” The Project of the Year – International category celebrates global creativity and features finalists such as The Reserve in Singapore; The Pearl on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas; The National Memorial Arc in Athens; Excitement in Oslo's Construction City Atrium; Qosa Kitchen and Bar in Hyderabad, India, ONYX AETHER in Hungary; and the Cologne Cathedral. The “Light Middle East Project of the Year” rounds off the category and honors the best project of the year. This award is given to the project that achieves the highest overall score from the jury and is the ultimate award for 2026. Kaori Hiroki, Senior Associate, Loop Lighting – a judge for the project category – commented: “The Light Middle East Awards will have a significant catalytic effect on the international community. Lighting is a powerful and inspiring element in interior design, closely linked to regional climates and cultures.” In the Product of the Year segment, which includes Decorative Lighting Product of the Year, Indoor Lighting Product of the Year, Outdoor Lighting Product of the Year and Smart Lighting Solution of the Year, companies impressed the judges with their forward-thinking approach to performance, efficiency, sustainability and aesthetics. The finalists for Decorative Lighting Product of the Year are Gravita by Linea Light, Cartouche by Pencilight, Clan Mini by iGuzzini, Bloomaire Kinetic Chandelier by Lumoconcept and Heritage Glow Portable Marmar Lamp by Style Team Industry. Meanwhile, the jury selected Lumencore Recessed Opticolor+ from Lumenpulse, Sipario from iGuzinni, Zhiwer WW from Fenos, Aperture and Viewmax from Fluxwerx Illumination as the finalists for Indoor Lighting Product of the Year. Finalists for Outdoor Lighting Product of the Year are Tesis from ERCO Lighting, Ribiera from iGuzzini, LSC180 Smart Pole from WE-EF Leuchten, Lumenfacade Max Opticolour+ from Lumenpulse and Jupiter Bollard from MASQ. The nominees for Smart Lighting Solution of the Year are Lifetime Indicator by Tridonic, Artplay by Artistic License Engineering, Everglo by Microfios Technologies, RCL by Luminii: Nova and DiGidot Powernode by DiGidot Technologies. The “Partner of the Year” award recognizes outstanding collaboration and industry leadership. The finalists include TRILUX Middle East, Monarca General Trading, LEDFlexGroup, Inventronics and iGuzzini. The Peer Award, determined through public online and live voting at Light + Intelligent Building Middle East 2026, offers the community the opportunity to vote for finalists across all product categories. Led by Martin Lupton and Sharon Stammers, co-founders of Light Collective UK, the Light Middle East Awards are judged by a panel of respected experts to ensure innovation, sustainability and design excellence are at the forefront of every decision. The 2026 edition will feature 34 renowned experts from nine countries, including nine returning international jurors from last year. This diverse panel of independent local and international experts ensures an objective and comprehensive evaluation process and recognizes innovation, sustainability and design excellence at all levels. Light + Intelligent Building Middle East is the leading lighting and building technology event in the MENA region. The event will take place from January 12 to 14, 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Center. About Light + Intelligent Building Middle East: Light + Intelligent Building Middle East brings together world-renowned brands, regional players and promising innovators for an exciting three-day showcase from January 12-14, 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC). Featuring products spanning lighting, electrical, home and building automation, the exhibition has played a pivotal role in the industry's growth and development since its inception in 2006, with a robust representation of global products and brands, multiple educational conferences, certified workshops and a leading awards program recognizing the best the industry has to offer. About Messe Frankfurt: The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world's largest trade fair, congress and event organizer with its own exhibition center. With around 2,500 employees at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries, it organizes events around the world. Group sales in the 2024 financial year amounted to €775 million. As part of our trade fairs & events, locations and services business areas, we serve the business interests of our customers efficiently. One of Messe Frankfurt's key strengths is its powerful and dense global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both on site and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organizing and executing their events. We use our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes the rental of exhibition centers, exhibition construction and marketing, personnel and catering services. Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. We ensure a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity. About Messe Frankfurt Middle East: Messe Frankfurt Middle East's exhibition portfolio includes: Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, Intersec, Intersec Saudi Arabia, Automechanisa Dubai, Automechanisa Riyadh, Beautyworld Middle East, Beautyworld Saudi Arabia, Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East, Logimotion and Paperworld Middle East. In the 2023/24 event season, a total of 6,324 exhibitors from over 60 countries were represented at the Messe Frankfurt Middle East exhibitions and attracted 224,106 visitors from 156 countries.
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