Associate Urban Designer

ApplyMint; Dubai; On-site; AED 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

ApplyMint seeks an Associate Urban Designer to lead the creation of innovative, sustainable urban environments in the UAE. You will drive from visioning through master planning, balancing placemaking with commercial viability and infrastructure integration.

You will manage multidisciplinary teams, present strategies to executives and authorities, and promote best practices in walkability and smart city principles. UAE-based experience is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, Architecture, or related discipline.
• Professional membership with a recognised planning or architectural institution is advantageous.
• 12-15 years' experience in urban design, master planning, or city planning.
• Minimum of 3 years of UAE Experience.
• Proven experience delivering large-scale master-planned communities, mixed-use developments, waterfront projects, destination developments, or major urban regeneration schemes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary consultant teams from concept through planning approval.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of urban design concepts for large-scale master-planned communities and waterfront developments.
• Translate development objectives into urban frameworks, neighbourhood structures, and placemaking strategies.
• Develop land-use plans, movement networks, density strategies, block layouts, and public realm concepts.
• Establish character and spatial quality of projects through high-quality urban design.
• Lead projects from visioning to master planning and planning approval stages.
• Prepare and review urban design frameworks, design guidelines, and public realm strategies.
• Test development scenarios to optimise land use, density, connectivity, and performance.
• Collaborate with multiple stakeholders and manage consultants.

Skills

Urban design

Master planning

Walkability

Stakeholder management

Presentation skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Urban Design/Planning/Architecture

Tools

Design software (CAD/ BIM)

Job description

My client a leading real estate developer in Abu Dhabi requires an Associate Urban Designer to lead the creation of innovative, sustainable, and commercially successful urban environments across a portfolio of major residential, mixed-use, waterfront, hospitality, and destination developments. Working within the Master Planning and Design team, this role is responsible for transforming development strategies into high-quality urban design solutions that create vibrant, people-focused communities. The successful candidate will lead the urban design process from early visioning through concept and master planning, ensuring projects balance placemaking, commercial objectives, infrastructure integration, sustainability, and long-term value.

Key Responsibilities

Urban Design Leadership

• Lead the development of urban design concepts for large-scale master-planned communities, mixed-use districts, waterfront developments, and destination projects.
• Translate development objectives into innovative urban frameworks, neighbourhood structures, and place-making strategies.
• Develop land-use plans, movement networks, density strategies, block layouts, and public realm concepts that support commercially successful developments.
• Establish the character, identity, and spatial quality of projects through high-quality urban design.

Master Planning & Design Development

• Lead projects from visioning and concept design through master planning and planning approval stages.
• Prepare and review urban design frameworks, design guidelines, public realm strategies, and development principles.
• Test development scenarios to optimise land use, density, connectivity, and commercial performance.
• Ensure urban design proposals respond effectively to planning policies, infrastructure requirements, environmental considerations, and market demands.

Consultant & Stakeholder Management

• Manage and coordinate international urban design, architecture, landscape, transport, and infrastructure consultants.
• Lead design workshops, visioning sessions, and multidisciplinary coordination meetings.
• Review consultant submissions to ensure compliance with approved design strategies and project objectives.
• Prepare consultant briefs, scopes of work, and technical requirements for urban design commissions.

Collaboration & Project Integration

• Work closely with Development, Architecture, Landscape, Infrastructure, Engineering, Commercial, and Project Delivery teams.
• Ensure urban design solutions integrate effectively with architecture, transport, utilities, sustainability, and delivery strategies.
• Balance design excellence with commercial viability, programme requirements, and construction considerations.

Presentation & Design Governance

• Present urban design strategies and recommendations to executive leadership, government authorities, and key stakeholders.
• Support design governance through structured design reviews and quality assurance processes.
• Ensure projects maintain consistency with approved visions, planning principles, and corporate design standards.

Innovation & Best Practice

• Research international precedents, emerging planning trends, and innovative urban development practices.
• Promote sustainable design, walkability, smart city principles, and resilient community planning.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of urban design standards, processes, and methodologies across the organisation.

Team Leadership

• Mentor and develop junior urban designers and support the growth of design capability within the team.
• Foster a collaborative, creative, and high-performing design culture.
• Share knowledge and promote design excellence across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• Professional membership with a recognised planning or architectural institution is advantageous.
• 12-15 years' experience in urban design, master planning, or city planning.
• Minimum of 3 years of UAE Experience.
• Proven experience delivering large-scale master-planned communities, mixed-use developments, waterfront projects, destination developments, or major urban regeneration schemes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary consultant teams from concept through planning approval.
• Background working for a leading developer, master developer, or internationally recognised urban design or architectural consultancy.
• Exceptional urban design and master planning expertise.
• Strong understanding of placemaking, walkability, public realm design, neighbourhood planning, and urban character.
• Ability to translate strategic development objectives into practical, high-quality urban design solutions.
• Excellent design review and critical thinking skills.
• Strong graphic communication and presentation abilities, including sketching, diagrams, and visual storytelling.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance design ambition, development viability, and delivery requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder management and facilitation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• Professional membership with a recognised planning or architectural institution is advantageous.
• 12-15 years' experience in urban design, master planning, or city planning.
• Minimum of 3 years of UAE Experience.
• Proven experience delivering large-scale master-planned communities, mixed-use developments, waterfront projects, destination developments, or major urban regeneration schemes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary consultant teams from concept through planning approval.
• Background working for a leading developer, master developer, or internationally recognised urban design or architectural consultancy.
• Exceptional urban design and master planning expertise.
• Strong understanding of placemaking, walkability, public realm design, neighbourhood planning, and urban character.
• Ability to translate strategic development objectives into practical, high-quality urban design solutions.
• Excellent design review and critical thinking skills.
• Strong graphic communication and presentation abilities, including sketching, diagrams, and visual storytelling.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance design ambition, development viability, and delivery requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder management and facilitation skills.