Senior Urban Designer

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Department: Masterplanning

Experience: 6-8 years

• Lead and contribute to the preparation of urban design concepts, masterplans, and public realm strategies for a variety of projects (mixed-use, residential, commercial, waterfront, and civic developments).
• Develop innovative, context-sensitive design solutions that enhance livability, sustainability, and place identity.
• Translate strategic visions into detailed urban design guidelines, frameworks, and technical documentation.
• Integrate land use, mobility, infrastructure, landscape, placemaking and built form into cohesive design proposals.
• Conduct comprehensive site and context analysis, including land use, mobility, environmental factors, regulations, and socio-economic conditions.
• Identify constraints and opportunities to inform design strategies and decision-making.
• Collaborate and coordination with multidisciplinary teams (architects, planners, landscape architects, infrastructure and transport engineers, and environmental specialists).
• Coordinate with clients, government authorities, and regulatory bodies across the UAE.
• Support stakeholder workshops and presentations to communicate design intent and gain approvals.
• Ensure designs comply with UAE local authority regulations, international best practices, and sustainability frameworks (e.g., Estidama, LEED, WELL where applicable).
• Prepare and review design and master planning packages for authority submissions and approvals.
• Produce high-quality drawings, diagrams, 3D models, and visualizations to effectively communicate design ideas.
• Prepare compelling presentations, reports, and graphics for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the Urban Design Project Lead in managing project timelines, deliverables, and resources.
• Mentor mid-level and junior team members and provide design and technical guidance.
• Stay up to date with emerging trends in urban design, master planning, smart cities, sustainability, and resilience.
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and design excellence initiatives

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Urban Design, Architecture, Urban Planning, or a related discipline
• Minimum 6–8 years of relevant experience, preferably within the Middle East/UAE.
• Proven experience in master planning and urban design project delivery across multiple scales. Strong portfolio demonstrating concept design, technical capability, and built project experience.
• Experience working on projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the Northern Emirates or other GCC cities.
• Familiarity with local authority requirements and master planning stages (e.g., DM, DDA, DMT, ADM, Trakhees, etc).
• Chartership or professional affiliation (RIBA, RTPI, ULI, or equivalent) is an advantage.
• Strong proficiency when it comes to the following:
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • AutoCAD
  • Sketchup
  • Enscape
  • AI-integrated workflows
  • Hand sketching or digital sketching
• Knowledge on the following would be advantageous:
  • Rhino + Grasshopper and/or Sketch Up
  • BIM Software
  • Climate modelling tools (Forma, etc)
  • GIS Software (QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, etc)

• Strong design thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities (verbal, written, and graphical).
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to lead and mentor junior staff.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and coordination skills.