Having recently completed a major project for Nakheel, the US architectural and design firm Creative Kingdom Inc has opened shop in Dubai.

The Dubai office joins the network of representative offices in Johannesburg, Beijing, Manila, Chang Mai and Tokyo. Its international head office is in Los Angeles.

The opening of the regional base has been capped by it winning a project from Qatar to complete the concept design of two major projects, one being a large scale reclamation and the other a themed resort project.

"We were noticed by the Nakheel Group, who invited us to initiate a concept design for The Palm, Jebel Ali. One thing led to another and Creative Kingdom was invited by Nakheel to establish the 'in-house' architectural design department for the Group," said Eduardo Robles, chairman and chief executive officer. The company was established in 1997.

"Having fulfilled our commitment to Nakheel and encouraged by approaches from prominent developers and regional figureheads, setting up independent operations here was the next logical step.

"We are extremely excited about the potential that this region, and specifically Dubai, offers an architectural design practice such as ours.

"The demand-driven property boom within the Dubai property market has led to several of its neighbours undertaking similar measures."

For Nakheel, Creative Kingdom was responsible for the masterplan design of The World islands, The Palm, Jebel Ali, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Jumeirah Islands (retail and residential components), Village Centre (major themed retail centre on the Palm Jumeirah).

"In addition, several other projects conceived by Creative Kingdom's design team are now in their final planning phases by a variety of developers," said Robles.

"These projects include two hotels on Palm Island Jumeirah, Dubai Creek Golf Club Hotel, presently under construction, various exclusive private residences and several masterplanning projects in Qatar and Bahrain.

"Our Dubai-based projects include the creative concept for an icon residential tower of one of Dubai's foremost development nodes, further extensions to the Madinat Jumeirah complex, several retail and leisure projects."

In the Middle East, Creative Kingdom's portfolio includes the themed Madinat Jumeriah resort. This concept design was essentially put together jointly with the developer, Mirage Mille.

The company's brief consisted of two resort hotels, the Mina Al Salam and the Al Qasr Hotel, leisure and health spa amenities, retail souqs, and entertainment facilities conceived around traditional Dubai architecture.