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Organized by MASAR CompetitionsRound 2 — 2026
Dialogue with the Nile

The Nile Floating Market

Dialogue with the Nile — Round 2 · Cairo — Nile waterfront, Egypt
Results announcedThe results were announced at the closing ceremony on 26 September 2026.Explore results and projects
01

Results

65 entries were submitted to Round 2 and the jury selected 24 Finalists. The results were announced at the closing ceremony on 26 September 2026 at Cairo Venue, Zamalek.

Team03
First Place

The Nile Threads

Threads of Heritage, Woven by the Nile

  • Farah Hossameldin Mostafa
  • Ibrahim Gamal Mohammed Ali
View the team
Team02
Second Place

Above & Below

Reviving Life Across the Nile

  • Mohamed Ahmed Farouk Elkhouly
  • Maryam Ahdy Abdelazim Eltanany
  • Mariam Ahmed Samir Amin
View the team
Team04
Third Place

Beyond the Banks

A Journey Between Two Identities

  • Yahya Mohamed Shyba
  • Rana Hany Sobhy
  • Malak Alaa Ibrahim
View the team
Team08
Environmental & Sustainability Award

Wasl

  • Maria Maged Magdy
  • Jana Mamdouh Hassan
  • Noor Ahmed Mohamed Atef Hussein
View the team
Individual16
Elme3margy Award

Dialogue Across Time

Nile Floating Market

  • Salah El Din Sobhy
View the participant
Team21
Special Mention

Rawafid

رحلة عبر النيل

  • Anan Ibrahim
  • Mariam Al-Jabari
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Explore results and projects
02

The journey

  1. 11 April 2026Brief published, registration opens
  2. 5 + 10Mentors and general-session guests
  3. 26 August 2026Final submission
  4. 65Entries submitted
  5. 7Jurors
  6. 24Finalists selected
  7. 26 September 2026Closing ceremony and results
03

Jury

Prof. Gasser GamilProfessor of Architecture · Vice Dean and Head of the Architecture Department, MIU
Samer El SayaryAssistant Professor of Architecture · researcher and award-winning architect
Adam DayemPrincipal, Actual Office · Assistant Professor, RPI School of Architecture
Hans-Petter BjørnådalArchitect MNAL · Founder and Creative Director, Poetic
Nathália VilelaArchitect & Interior Designer
Dr. Heba El-DessoukyInterior Architect · Hospitality Innovation Director, Mountain View
Dr. Omar El HossenyCourse Director and Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering · consultant and General Manager
Jury
04

Mentors and sessions

Mentors

05

Five mentors worked with participants on their projects during the competition.

Samar HelmyDesign Director at MASAR Architects and co-founder of Twenties
Sameh Ibrahim EmamDesign Competition Consultant at MASAR Architects; architectural competitions and design thinking
Soha AbdelghanyTeam Leader Architect & Interior Designer
Mohamed HelmyCo-founder, Shado; Construction Manager
Ahmed El-MetwalyArchitect and entrepreneur; founder of MASAR 101 and MASAR Competitions

General sessions

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Ten guests from architecture, interior design, visualisation, construction and academia led the general sessions.

Dr. Omar El HossenyCourse Director and Assistant Professor of civil & environmental engineering; consultant
Samer El SayaryAssistant Professor of Architecture; researcher and award-winning architect
Ahmed ZakariaHead of the Unreal Engine Department, VANILLA Studio
Ali Khaled ElewaCo-founder, Five Egyptian Architects
Mahmoud AzouzFounder of Azouz Building and Bevel Commercial; combines design, execution and commercial experience
Malak RashadFounder, F&R Partnership; Founder & Design Director, by Malak Rashad
Nihal MouradCreative Director, Nihal Mourad Designs
Mona HusseinFounder, Mona Hussein Design House & Mahally; Founding Partner, MAK Architects
Nour El Den KhaledCo-founder & Chief Designer, LAB59 Architects
Hisham El-EssawyFounder of HEDS, KA & Designed in Egypt
05

Closing ceremony

When and whereSaturday, 26 September 2026 — doors open at 6:00 PMCairo Venue, Gabalaya St., Zamalek
The programme
  1. Arrival, registration and networking — from 6:00 PM
  2. Opening and the competition journey, with the main host Nourhan Abubakr
  3. Three panel discussions
  4. Break
  5. “Something Bigger Is Taking Shape” — a talk by Ahmed El-Metwaly on the next chapter
  6. Recognition of the 24 Finalists
  7. Honorable Mentions, Special Mentions and the special awards
  8. The Top 3 project showcase
  9. The podium reveal: Third, Second and First Place
  10. Group photo and closing
Founder talkSomething Bigger Is Taking ShapeAhmed El-Metwaly — Architect and entrepreneur; founder of MASAR 101 and MASAR Competitions

The founder of MASAR 101 shares the vision for the next chapter: MASAR Competitions.

Hosts

Nourhan AbubakrWriter and author; main host of the closing ceremony
Hossam KhamisDesign Manager at Hafez Consultants and host of the A3det Mohandeseen podcast; leads panel discussions 1 and 2
Bahaa MaherArchitect, architectural content creator and TV host of El Me3margy on Al Nahar; leads panel discussion 3 and presents the Elme3margy Award

Panel discussions

Panel discussion 1

The journey through the jury’s eyes: what set the projects apart, and how one brief produced different visions.

  • Dr. Heba El-DessoukyInterior Architect and Hospitality Innovation Director, Mountain View; jury member
  • Prof. Gasser GamilProfessor of Architecture; Vice Dean and Head of the Architecture Department, MIU; jury member
Led by: Hossam Khamis
Panel discussion 2

Realism, buildability and the technical decisions that turn an idea into a proposal that can be assessed.

  • Dr. Omar El HossenyCourse Director and Assistant Professor of civil & environmental engineering; jury member
  • Sameh Ibrahim EmamDesign Competition Consultant; followed the competition journey
Led by: Hossam Khamis
Panel discussion 3

From concept to an experience that can be built and operated — and what architects learn from construction and the market.

  • Samar HelmyDesign Director; supported participants during the competition
  • Mahmoud AzouzFounder of Azouz Building and Bevel Commercial; combines design, execution and commercial experience
Led by: Bahaa Maher
Read about the closing ceremony
06

Prizes

The Dialogue with the Nile Prize — handed over at the closing ceremony on 26 September 2026.
First PlaceEGP 30,000
Second PlaceEGP 15,000
Third PlaceEGP 5,000
Environmental & Sustainability Award
Special award
Elme3margy Award
A special award by Elme3margy (Bahaa Maher)
2 Special Mentions
Certificate
4 Honorable Mentions
Certificate
Finalists
Certificate for every finalist entry

Certificates are given to every Finalist and to the winners at the closing ceremony on 26 September 2026 at Cairo Venue, Zamalek.

Evaluation criteria
Concept clarity and narrative25%
Spatial and architectural innovation25%
Integration with the Nile context15%
Feasibility and sustainability15%
Presentation quality20%
07

Brief

The competition invites young architects to envision a contemporary floating market along the Cairo Nile waterfront — a vibrant public destination merging tourism, culture and the living spirit of the Nile. Proposals may be a movable market that drifts or docks, or a permanently anchored one, and each must specify what the market sells, avoiding generic souvenir products.

A bold, contemporary vision that redefines how Egypt engages with its river: a new waterside identity, a new architectural experience, a design that lives with the Nile.

Organizer
MASAR Competitions — Organizer
Project location
Cairo — Nile waterfront, Egypt
Discipline
Architecture
Audience
Students and professionals
Vision
  1. Activates the Nile as a social and cultural interface
  2. Offers a unique tourist experience
  3. Reflects Egyptian identity through innovative floating architecture
  4. Creates a memorable night-time atmosphere with lighting and reflections
What the project may include
  1. Floating or movable market stalls
  2. Water-edge food and drink decks
  3. Night-time activity zones: music, art, open-air cinema
  4. Small courtyards, public resting spaces and a shaded walkway
  5. Service pods for maintenance, utilities and waste

Design language: The design language may draw from Egyptian vernacular materials, contemporary minimalism, and the sensory qualities of water, light and movement.

What a proposal must address
  1. Whether the market is movable or fixed, and why
  2. What unique products or experiences the market offers
  3. Water-based structural systems, stability and anchoring
  4. Circulation on floating platforms
  5. Safety, accessibility and sustainability
  6. Night-time lighting and spatial ambience
  7. Relationship to Cairo’s riverfront and skyline
  8. Mandatory outputs include day and night visualizations
Brief version 1.0 · 11 April 2026Change summary: First published version, released with registration.
Full brief
08

Eligibility

Audience
Architecture students and young architects
Eligibility
Up to 25 years old at the time of the final submission
Team
Individual or team of up to 3 members
Open to residents of
Open to all countries

The brief states no nationality or residence restriction.

A participant declaration at submission; document checks are made where required.

09

Deliverables

  1. Concept statementmax 350 words
  2. Site strategywith diagrams
  3. Plans, sections and elevation(s)
  4. 3D visualsday and night
  5. Structural and environmental conceptbrief
Submission guidelinesOne A0 landscape board — 84.1 × 118.9 cmJPG or PNG · 300 dpi minimum · up to 25 MBThe file is named with the unique team code issued after registration and payment (for example 243.jpg).
  1. One JPG or PNG file at 300 dpi minimum and up to 25 MB, landscape orientation on an A0 board.
  2. Email subject: dialogue with the Nile final submission (team/individual no.) — for example Team 70.
  3. Write the full names of the team members inside the email.
  4. Any submission that does not follow the guidelines is subject to disqualification.
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Fees

StageAmount (per person)Until
Early registration1,000 EGP27 May 2026Ended
Standard registration1,250 EGP28 July 2026Ended
Late registration1,500 EGP18 August 2026Ended

The registration fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, including failure to submit an entry after registering.

11

Dates

Registration opens
11 April 2026
Registration
18 August 2026
Registration closed
Submission
26 August 202623:59 time in Cairo (UTC+3)
Submission closed
Results
26 September 202618:00 time in Cairo (UTC+3)
Results announced