About DES
Engineering intelligence for the built environment
We are a specialist simulation house combining advanced CFD, finite element, acoustic, and hydraulic analysis with deep domain expertise — helping engineers, developers, and operators make better decisions before they build.
Our story
Founded on a conviction that engineering decisions deserve better data
DES was established in Dubai to address a persistent gap in the regional market: projects of extraordinary complexity being designed with insufficient analytical rigour. Towers, district cooling networks, data centres, and process plants were being delivered without the simulation depth their scale demanded — and the consequences were showing up as costly post-construction corrections.
We built a practice around computational methods — CFD, finite element analysis, pipe stress, acoustic modelling, smoke and evacuation simulation, and hydraulic network modelling — and embedded them into the project workflow from concept through handover. Our work has shaped some of the most technically demanding projects in the UAE and wider GCC, spanning high-rise buildings, data halls, district cooling plants, water treatment facilities, and power infrastructure.
Today DES operates as a specialist consultancy, partnering with architects, MEP engineers, process engineers, developers, and government authorities to deliver simulation-led insights that reduce risk, cut energy use, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve occupant and operational outcomes.
What drives us
Principles we build every engagement around
Rigour over assumption
Every recommendation is grounded in validated models and reproducible analysis. We document every assumption, verify every boundary condition, and do not substitute engineering judgement for computational evidence.
Clarity of output
Simulation results are only valuable when decision-makers can act on them. We invest as much in communication as in computation — every report is structured to answer the question that matters.
Integration by design
Our tools and workflows are built to connect with the broader project team. CFD, FEA, acoustic, and hydraulic analyses are coordinated — not siloed — so conflicts and opportunities surface early.
Continuous improvement
We benchmark our methods against international best practice — ASHRAE, CIBSE, ISO, API — and update our toolset as the state of the art advances. Our team publishes, presents, and stays current.
The team
Specialists across simulation, stress analysis, and digital engineering
Dr. Esmail Bialy
Founder & Principal Engineer
PhD in computational fluid dynamics with 18 years of experience in building physics, district energy, and MEP simulation across the GCC. Formerly a visiting researcher at TU Delft.
Sara Khalil
Head of BIM & Digital Delivery
Chartered engineer and BIM Level 2 practitioner leading coordination, clash detection, and 4D planning on major infrastructure and mixed-use schemes across the UAE and KSA.
James Thornton
Senior CFD & Acoustic Engineer
Specialises in CFD analysis for high-rise facades, data halls, outdoor thermal comfort, and acoustic modelling for district cooling plants and urban environments. Background in aerospace fluid dynamics.
Nour El-Sayed
Hydraulic & Pipe Stress Lead
Expert in district cooling network modelling, hydraulic transient analysis, pipe stress and support design to API 618/674/675, and surge analysis for large-scale utility and process projects.
What we do
A full spectrum of simulation disciplines
Standards & affiliations
Recognised standards and affiliations
ASHRAE Member
Active application of ASHRAE 55, 62.1, 90.1, and 189.1 standards across thermal comfort, ventilation, energy, and building performance analysis.
CIBSE Affiliate
Aligned with CIBSE TM guides and AM series for building services engineering, natural ventilation, and low-carbon design.
API Standards
Pipe stress and pulsation analysis to API 618, API 674, and API 675 for reciprocating and centrifugal pump systems in oil, gas, and process plants.
Quality Management
Certified quality management processes covering model validation, peer review, and document control across all project deliverables.
Ready to bring simulation intelligence to your project?
Tell us about your project and we will outline how DES can add value from feasibility through to construction.
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