AtkinsRéalis and Futurecity Partner on Culture-Led Urban Development

Dubai, UAE: AtkinsRéalis, the global design and engineering firm, and Futurecity, the cultural placemaking agency, have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding at MIPIM 2026 to advance culture-led urban development across global markets.

The partnership will initially focus on the Middle East, where significant investment in arts, culture and destination development is reshaping cities and redefining urban identity.

A central component of the agreement is the creation of the Futurecity Lab, a joint platform dedicated to research, cultural foresight, and market intelligence in global cultural placemaking.

The Futurecity Lab will inform AtkinsRéalis’ planning, engineering and master-planning work, enabling projects to strengthen their identity and enhance their competitiveness on a global scale.

By combining AtkinsRéalis’ capabilities in engineering, architecture and programme delivery with Futurecity’s expertise in cultural strategy and placemaking, the partnership aims to embed cultural thinking from the earliest stages of development.

The collaboration reflects a broader shift in city making, where cultural identity and user experience are increasingly recognised as core drivers of long-term value.

Cultural districts, creative neighbourhoods and experience-led destinations are playing a growing role in attracting investment, boosting tourism and enhancing urban competitiveness. Through this partnership, both organisations will support governments and developers in delivering projects that are sustainable, economically viable and culturally distinctive.

The partnership will operate through integrated bid and delivery teams, ensuring that cultural insights are embedded throughout both planning and implementation phases. This approach is expected to strengthen design cohesion, improve planning outcomes and enhance long-term asset performance.

Matthew Tribe, Senior Vice President, Buildings and Places, AtkinsRéalis, said:

This collaboration brings cultural depth into the core of major development programmes. Working with Futurecity strengthens our ability to help clients create destinations with clear identity, long-term value, and a meaningful sense of place. Across the Middle East and other fast-evolving markets, this combined expertise allows us to support governments and developers in delivering projects that resonate with people and stand out globally.

Mark Davy, CEO and Founder of Futurecity, said:

Futurecity and AtkinsRéalis have created a unique partnership that sets a new approach to city-making. By embedding culture-led placemaking into masterplanning and strategic work from the outset, we offer a groundbreaking service shaping the next generation of urban developments. Across the Middle East, where significant investment in the arts is reshaping national transformation agendas, we support governments and developers in delivering culturally distinctive places designed for lasting value.

Together, AtkinsRéalis and Futurecity aim to establish a new benchmark for culture-led development by combining technical expertise with cultural insight to deliver destinations that inspire communities, strengthen economies and stand out internationally.

As the partnership evolves, both organisations plan to expand their collaboration across additional global markets while continuing to develop new tools, methodologies and frameworks that support next-generation urban development.