Brothers Honoured with Business Leadership Award at the 2025 Scottish Property Awards
Dr Ali and Mike Afshar, founders of AMA, have been named recipients of the Business Leadership Award at the 2025 Scottish Property Awards. Sponsored by Together Money, the prestigious accolade will be presented on Thursday, 20th February 2025, celebrating the brothers’ enduring impact on the Scottish property sector.
Dr Ali and Mike’s remarkable journey began in Tehran, where they were born, before moving to Scotland in 1970. They pursued their secondary education at Rannoch School in Perthshire, marking the start of an impressive academic and professional trajectory.
Dr Ali earned a PhD in Structural Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, while Mike pursued Building Engineering in Edinburgh and Quantity Surveying in Aberdeen, ultimately becoming a chartered surveyor. With their complementary expertise, the brothers founded AMA in 1983, driven by a shared ambition to create a property development business focused on quality, imagination, and bespoke design solutions.
A Unique Vision for Edinburgh’s Heritage
From the outset, Ali and Mike committed to delivering developments that respected and enhanced Edinburgh’s architectural heritage. AMA’s inaugural project—restoring four Georgian townhouses on Great King Street in the New Town—set the standard for the company’s future work. Combining traditional craftsmanship with modern innovations, the project was a pioneering example of sympathetic restoration.
This first success paved the way for AMA’s involvement in numerous high-profile restorations and conversions of historic buildings, breathing new life into:
The former Marchmont School
Mount Alvernia Convent
The former Bruntsfield Hospital
Springwell House, the former NHS foot clinic
Belford’s former car showroom
AMA also expanded into gap site developments and large-scale urban regeneration projects, always maintaining a design philosophy that complemented Edinburgh’s historical grain. Notable examples include:
Springside Development, a regeneration of the former Newcastle Brewery site
Evolution House on Lady Lawson Street
St Vincent Place in New Town and the World Heritage Site
Caer Amon, a significant housing development in Cramond
Public Service and Community Involvement
Beyond their contributions to the property sector, Dr Ali and Mike have made significant impacts on public life. Dr Ali has served as a Main Board Director for Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres, Chair of the Property Committee, and a member of Heriot-Watt University’s Industrial Advisory Panel. He is also an advisory board member of the Winning Scotland Foundation and chaired the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Property Policy Group.
Mike has similarly devoted time to community and professional development. He has held leadership roles within The Royal Merchant Company of Edinburgh, including Chair of the Property and Frail & Elderly Committees. His work with Napier University includes serving on the Professional Advisory Committee and mentoring students through mock interviews and career development programs.
A Lasting Legacy
The Business Leadership Award recognises Dr Ali and Mike’s lifelong dedication to creating innovative, high-quality developments that honour Edinburgh’s rich architectural heritage while shaping its future. Their work at AMA continues to set the benchmark for imaginative, sustainable design that stands the test of time.