Dutchman Rem Koolhaas, 70, renowned for his work on the CCTV building in Beijing and the Prada building in New York, addressed a packed auditorium at the American University of Sharjah on Tuesday.

His speech drew a large crowd of students, faculty and members of the public.

“Dubai has escaped from its architectural caricatures,” Mr Koolhaas said.

“There’s a great evidence of sophistication and an emergence of local architects that recognise authenticity,” he said.

Mr Koolhaas had a positive outlook on the region despite recent upheaval and said that it provided the opportunity for the dawn of something new.

He also praised the involvement of the country’s rulers and the freedom they have given to designers to transform the landscape of the region.