Antonio Joaquim Dias: Building Legacies, Designing Futures
With over three decades of shaping skylines and refining spaces, Antonio Joaquim Dias is not just an architect—he is a storyteller who uses concrete, glass, and vision as his medium. Based in Dubai and rooted in the vibrant cultural soil of Goa, Antonio has been a driving force behind some of the region’s most iconic architectural developments, blending artistry with purpose across a career spanning 33 years.
Currently a Senior Design Manager at Saif Al Ghurair Real Estate Group, Antonio has successfully delivered 13 diverse projects in Dubai—from intimate villas to multi-storey residential buildings—guiding them from concept through to handover. Whether overseeing the transformation of the BurJuman complex or pioneering feasibility studies for new ventures, his approach is always thoughtful, strategic, and grounded in design excellence.
Before this, Antonio co-founded Diasquare JLT, where he lent his architectural insight to regional giants like John R Harris & Partners, managing technical design reviews and project leadership roles across Iraq and the UAE. His fingerprints can be found on developments such as Al Barari's ‘Ashjar Living’, Festival City Mall's extension, and various bespoke villas and interiors in Dubai and India.
Perhaps most notably, Antonio spent nearly a decade at NORR Group, playing a pivotal role on the Burj Khalifa—architectural supervision, interior coordination for the Armani Hotel, and site collaboration with firms like SOM, Hyder, and Wilson Associates. His work helped shape not just a building, but a global icon.
His architectural journey began at John R Harris & Partners in 1991, where he played a key role in projects ranging from the HSBC Headquarters to the Equine Hospital for HH Sheikh Mohammed. His keen design sense and technical agility led him to secondments at RMJM and Halcrow, working on high-speed landmark developments such as the Al Qasba Canal Buildings in Sharjah.
Antonio is more than his impressive portfolio. He’s a leader with a love for conservation, having worked with Fundação Oriente and INTACH on heritage projects in Goa. He is also an artist at heart—drawn to music, photography, travel writing, and the quiet poetry of old architecture. This balance of heritage and innovation is what sets him apart.
A graduate of the University of Bombay with a Bachelor of Architecture (Hons), Antonio is a member of the Council of Architects, India. He was awarded second prize in the national competition for the Goa Legislative Assembly building—a proud moment that still fuels his creative fire.
Today, Antonio continues to seek meaningful collaborations where he can blend vision, design, and leadership. Whether he's refining a floor plan, mentoring a team, or sketching ideas inspired by a Goan sunset, Antonio Dias remains a dedicated craftsman of spaces—and of stories.