Director – Interior Design Jobs in Dubai, UAE

Uae Job Alert; Dubai; On-site; AED 450,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Futtaim Real Estate is seeking a Director – Interior Design to provide creative and technical leadership across its interior design projects in Dubai. You will oversee the design process from concept to construction documentation and manage design consultants to ensure high standards of quality, functionality and brand identity.

The role requires establishing interior design standards, developing guidelines for new and existing properties, and delivering projects within time and cost

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design or closely related discipline.
• More than 10 years of professional experience in interior design.
• Experience on high-end or large-scale residential and hospitality projects.
• At least 5 years in a leadership or senior management position.
• Strong knowledge of interior design standards, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Experience managing design consultants and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead interior design projects through concept development, design development, documentation and construction.
• Manage multiple projects with a structured, consistent design process.
• Establish and maintain interior design standards, guidelines, and specifications.
• Develop design and technical standards for furniture, fixtures, equipment, and operating supplies.
• Review space layouts, drawings, material selections, and FF&E specifications.
• Ensure design proposals align with project requirements and standards.
• Research current interior design trends, materials, finishes, technologies, and construction techniques.
• Evaluate market to identify interior design consultants and specialist designers.
• Define design requirements, scopes of work, qualification criteria, and consultant selection recommendations.
• Support preparation and management of design agreements and contracts.
• Monitor design-related costs and assess financial impact of proposed changes.
• Review and approve design documentation at project stages.
• Conduct regular site visits during construction to monitor design implementation and quality.
• Review proposals, mock-ups, samples, and consultant submissions.
• Represent real estate team in meetings with designers, consultants, contractors and stakeholders.
• Monitor KPIs and support improvement within interior design function.
• Lead, mentor and motivate interior design professionals to achieve objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Concept development

Mood boards

Communication

Coordination

Design standards

Cost/schedule/quality evaluation

Industry trends

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Project

Job description

Job Overview

Al-Futtaim Real Estate is looking for an experienced Director – Interior Design to provide creative and technical leadership across its interior design projects in Dubai. The successful candidate will oversee the design process from the early concept stage through detailed design and construction documentation.

This senior position involves managing design consultants, establishing interior design standards, reviewing project deliverables, and ensuring that completed spaces meet the required standards for quality, functionality, aesthetics, and brand identity.

The Director will also play an important role in developing design guidelines for new and existing properties while ensuring projects are delivered within agreed cost, time, and quality expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead interior design projects through concept development, design development, documentation, and construction.
• Manage multiple projects while maintaining a structured and consistent design process.
• Establish and maintain interior design standards, guidelines, and specifications.
• Develop design and technical standards for furniture, fixtures, equipment, and operating supplies.
• Review space layouts, detailed drawings, material selections, and FF&E specifications.
• Ensure design proposals are aligned with project requirements and established standards.
• Research current trends in interior design, materials, finishes, technologies, and construction techniques.
• Evaluate the market and identify suitable interior design consultants and specialist designers.
• Define design requirements, scopes of work, qualification criteria, and consultant selection recommendations.
• Support the preparation and management of design agreements and contracts.
• Monitor design-related costs and assess the financial impact of proposed changes.
• Review and approve design documentation submitted at different project stages.
• Conduct regular site visits during construction to monitor design implementation and quality.
• Review interior design proposals, mock-ups, samples, and consultant submissions.
• Represent the real estate team during meetings with designers, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor departmental KPIs and support continuous improvement within the interior design function.
• Lead, mentor, and motivate interior design professionals to achieve project and business objectives.
• Carry out additional responsibilities related to interior design and real estate development as required.

Skills and Competencies

The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong creative, technical, and leadership capabilities, including:

• Excellent concept development and mood board presentation skills.
• Strong interior design leadership and team management abilities.
• Effective communication and coordination with consultants, designers, contractors, and stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of design quality and project delivery requirements.
• Ability to evaluate the cost, schedule, and quality impact of design changes.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Good knowledge of current interior design trends, materials, finishes, and industry practices.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates applying for the Director – Interior Design position should have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design or a closely related discipline.
• More than 10 years of professional experience in interior design.
• Experience working on high-end or large-scale residential and hospitality projects.
• At least 5 years of experience in a leadership or senior management position.
• Strong knowledge of relevant interior design standards, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Experience managing design consultants and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project is preferred.

Career Opportunity

This is a senior-level opportunity for an accomplished interior design professional who wants to contribute to major real estate projects in Dubai. The position combines creative design leadership with project management, consultant coordination, quality control, and strategic decision-making.

Professionals with strong experience in residential, hospitality, and large-scale interior design projects are encouraged to explore this opportunity.

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job Category: Interior Design / Real Estate
Position: Director – Interior Design
Employment Type: Full-time