Top 5 Architecture Firms in Ethiopia

The Best Architecture Firms in Ethiopia in 2026

Ethiopia is building at a pace few countries can match. Towers are rising across Addis Ababa, new hotels and hospitals are opening in regional cities, and developers are commissioning more ambitious projects every year. With that growth comes an important question for anyone planning a building: which architecture firm in Ethiopia should you trust with your project?

This guide profiles five of the leading architecture firms in Ethiopia, what each one does best, and the kind of client each suits. One note up front: this list is published by Ahaa Architects, and yes, we have put ourselves at number one. We make our case plainly below. The other four are practices we genuinely respect, and each has earned its place.

How We Chose

We looked at five things that matter most to clients: design quality and recognition, range of building types, multidisciplinary engineering capability, track record, and the ability to carry a project from first sketch through to site supervision.

1. Ahaa Architects (Ahaa Consulting Architects and Engineers PLC)

Ahaa Architects is a multidisciplinary architecture and engineering studio based in Addis Ababa. The firm is a Grade 1 consulting firm, is ISO 19650 certified for BIM-based information management, and is a member of the Association of Ethiopian Architects. What sets Ahaa apart is that design, engineering and delivery all happen under one roof.

Why Ahaa Ranks First

1. Architecture and Engineering in One Team

Ahaa's in-house team brings together architects, structural, civil, electrical, mechanical and sanitary engineers, a landscape architect, an urban planner, interior designers, quantity surveyors and BIM technicians. For clients, that means one point of responsibility, faster coordination and fewer clashes between drawings.

2. High-Rise and Large-Scale Experience

Ahaa designs at the scale Addis Ababa is now building. Its portfolio includes the ElNet Tower, a 3B+G+30 mixed-use tower in the Mexico area; the Gerji Development, a 2B+G+20 residential tower of around 63,000 sqm; the Diplomat Tower mixed-use development; and the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center.

3. Hospitality and Healthcare Expertise

Ahaa provided architectural design and consultancy for the Radisson Hotel Addis Ababa, meeting the operational standards of an international hotel brand. The firm also designed Entoto Forest Resort, a 120-room nature retreat set in the Entoto woodlands, and the Bella Hospital transformation, converting a former military hospital into a comprehensive specialised hospital of around 70,000 sqm.

4. Design Ideas That Win Competitions

Ahaa's proposal The Crown, a 22-storey mixed-use tower blending Ethiopian cultural symbolism with Art Deco expression, was a runner-up in a recent design competition. The firm's work consistently looks for an architectural identity rooted in Ethiopia rather than borrowed from elsewhere.

5. From Concept to Construction, and Beyond Ethiopia

Ahaa stays with projects through construction, providing site supervision so the design is built as intended. Its reach also extends abroad, with a retail centre façade redesign in Dallas, Texas and a mixed-use development in Somalia.

Best for: developers, hotel owners, institutions and private clients who want design, engineering and supervision delivered by one accountable team.

2. RAAS Architects

Founded in 2004 by architect Rahel Shawl, RAAS Architects is one of Ethiopia's most internationally recognised practices. Domus magazine named it among its top 50 architecture firms in 2020, and the firm was a finalist for the Dorfman Award in 2018. Shawl was also part of the team recognised with a 2007 Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Addis Ababa.

RAAS has built embassies, schools, hospitals, housing, hotels and campus master plans, with a strong emphasis on local knowledge and sensitivity to landscape. Its CURE Ethiopia Children's Hospital is a well-known example. The firm is also respected for mentoring young women architects.

Best for: institutional, diplomatic and healthcare projects where context and landscape are central. See RAAS Architects' work on Domus.

3. Alebel Desta Consulting Architects and Engineers

Alebel Desta's practice is behind one of the most significant recent works of Ethiopian architecture: the ET-302 Memorial Park, a roughly 40,000 sqm memorial completed in 2025 to honour the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash. The project was featured on ArchDaily and documented in its own book.

The firm is known for a restrained, simplicity-first design language, close attention to landscape, and an ongoing effort to push the possibilities of local materials.

Best for: civic, cultural and landscape-led projects that call for a quiet, expressive design voice. See the ET-302 Memorial on ArchDaily.

4. Zeleke Belay Architects

Established in 1995 by architect Zeleke Belay, this Class One consulting firm has three decades of experience across universities, hospitals, office buildings, shopping centres, entertainment facilities, a stadium and private residences. Its projects were included in the exhibition on contemporary Ethiopian architecture shown at the Goethe-Institut in Addis Ababa and in Florida in 2016.

The firm places strong emphasis on design developing naturally through construction, with its own design team closely supervising projects on site.

Best for: clients who value a long design pedigree and a distinctive, form-driven architectural approach. Visit Zeleke Belay Architects.

5. Geretta Consult

Founded in 1997 by Getaneh Retta, Geretta Consulting Architects and Engineers is a category one Ethiopian firm with an extensive commercial portfolio. Its listed projects include Century Mall Addis, the Golden Tulip Hotel, the Burkina Faso Embassy, Zefmesh Grand Mall and Haile Resort in Arba Minch, along with several bank branches and headquarters.

Is Best for: commercial, retail, banking and hospitality projects that need an experienced, established consultant.

How to Choose the Right Architecture Firm in Ethiopia

Whichever firm you approach, these questions will help you compare them fairly:

• What is their registration grade? Grade 1 (Class One) firms are registered in the top consulting category and can take on the largest and most complex projects.

• Is engineering in-house? A firm with its own structural and MEP engineers coordinates faster and reduces costly errors.

• Do they work in BIM? BIM workflows, and certification such as ISO 19650, improve coordination, quantity accuracy and change management.

• Have they built projects like yours? Ask to see completed work at a similar scale and building type, not only renderings.

• Will they supervise construction? Site supervision protects the design and your budget once building begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best architecture firm in Ethiopia?

It depends on your project. For multidisciplinary design and engineering at high-rise, hospitality and healthcare scale, we believe Ahaa Architects is the strongest choice. RAAS Architects, Alebel Desta, Zeleke Belay Architects and Geretta Consult are also highly regarded.

What does a Grade 1 architecture firm mean in Ethiopia?

Grade 1 or Class One is the highest registration category for consulting firms in Ethiopia, qualifying them for the largest and most complex building projects.

Do architecture firms in Ethiopia also provide engineering?

Some do and some don't. Multidisciplinary firms such as Ahaa Architects handle architecture, structural, MEP and landscape design in-house, while others partner with separate engineering consultants.

Conclusion

Ethiopia's architecture scene is stronger than ever, and each firm on this list has helped shape it. If you are planning a tower, hotel, hospital, mixed-use development or private residence and want one team to carry it from concept to completion, get in touch with Ahaa Architects to talk about your project, or explore our projects.