Dr. John Alexander Smith is the Professor and Emeritus Chairman of the Department of Interior Design at the American University in Dubai and consults to leading international interior architecture practices based in Dubai. He has been a chartered architect for twenty-seven years.   During this period, he has worked extensively in the Middle East: in Oman as a newly qualified architect, in Iran as the principal of an architectural and interior design practice, and in the United Arab Emirates as one of Dubai 's leading educators and built environment specialists. In this latter context he has published several articles and is contributing chapters to books dealing with the Urban History and Architecture of Dubai.   Originating from Edinburgh in Scotland, Dr. Alexander Smith took his (professional) architectural degrees at the Robert Gordon University in the 1970s followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture and Landscape Architecture in 1989 at one of Britain's ancient universities, the University of Aberdeen (founded 1495).   His interests include garden design, writing (he is a published novelist), association football, classical and new age music. He seldom watches television but listens to radio. John Alexander Smith has been a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects since 1980 and in 2005 helped set up the Association of Professional Interior Designers here in Dubai, of which he is the serving Vice-president. Between these years he has been elected a Fellow of several learned bodies including the Royal Society of Arts in London.   He is an authority on the Islamic Landscape Garden and is co-writing a book on traditional Chinese gardens. He is in demand as an expert on Dubai's urban planning and architecture and has lectured extensively in the major continents at many leading universities and learned societies.

 Architecture and Landscape