The Arab world’s modern built environment was shaped largely during a period when several Arab countries were on the cusp of gaining independence from colonial rule. Contributions in this volume present Arab modern architecture based on previously overlooked figures, narratives, and experiences. Projects from North Africa, the Levant, and the Arabian Gulf show critical moments of postcolonial nation-building. The travel of ideas and figures from within and outside the architectural profession – including craftspeople, bureaucrats, and residents – demonstrates the multifaceted international and regional exchanges underpinning architectural creations and imaginaries in the wake of independence.