Principal Urban Planner

ATKINSREALIS OVERSEAS - DUBAI BRANCH; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tax-free salary

Life insurance coverage

Medical insurance

Annual leave balance

Company gratuity scheme

Discretionary bonus program

Annual flight contribution

Transportation & housing allowances

Employee Wellbeing Program

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis in Dubai seeks a Principal Urban Planner to lead master planning, regional plans, and urban design strategies across Dubai and the UAE.

You will manage multidisciplinary teams, coordinate with government authorities, and ensure projects meet planning regulations, sustainability goals, and long-term urban strategies.

The role emphasizes leadership, client management, and delivery of complex developments with a focus on smart city principles and resilience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or related field.
• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, or relevant field preferred.
• Minimum 15+ years of professional experience in urban planning and master planning.
• Knowledge of UAE planning frameworks, development regulations, and approval processes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating with public and private stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and delivery of master plans, regional plans, strategic development frameworks, and urban design strategies.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams of planners, urban designers, architects, engineers, and specialist consultants.
• Provide technical leadership and quality assurance throughout all project phases.
• Develop innovative planning solutions balancing economic, environmental, and social objectives.
• Liaise with government authorities, regulatory agencies, developers, and key stakeholders.
• Oversee land use planning, zoning assessments, transportation integration, and infrastructure coordination.
• Prepare and review planning reports, feasibility studies, planning submissions, and policy documents.
• Lead stakeholder consultations, workshops, and public engagement activities.
• Monitor project schedules, budgets, resources, and deliverables to ensure successful project execution.
• Support business development activities, including client engagement, proposal preparation, and project presentations.
• Mentor and develop junior planners and project team members.
• Ensure compliance with local planning regulations, municipal requirements, and international best practices.
• Promote sustainability, resilience, smart city initiatives, and transit‑oriented development principles in planning solutions.

Skills

Project leadership

Team management

Urban planning

GIS proficiency

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Public speaking

Client management

Education

Bachelor's in Urban Planning

Master's in Urban Planning

Tools

GIS

Planning software

Job description

Job Description Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Urban Planner to lead the planning, design, and delivery of complex urban development projects across Dubai and the wider UAE region. The role involves providing strategic planning expertise, managing multidisciplinary teams, engaging with government authorities and stakeholders, and ensuring projects align with local planning regulations, sustainability objectives, and long‑term urban development strategies. The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in shaping master plans, urban policies, and transformative developments that enhance the built environment and support sustainable growth.

Your role

• Lead the preparation and delivery of master plans, regional plans, strategic development frameworks, and urban design strategies.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams of planners, urban designers, architects, engineers, and specialist consultants.
• Provide technical leadership and quality assurance throughout all project phases.
• Develop innovative planning solutions that balance economic, environmental, and social objectives.
• Liaise with government authorities, regulatory agencies, developers, and key stakeholders.
• Oversee land use planning, zoning assessments, transportation integration, and infrastructure coordination.
• Prepare and review planning reports, feasibility studies, planning submissions, and policy documents.
• Lead stakeholder consultations, workshops, and public engagement activities.
• Monitor project schedules, budgets, resources, and deliverables to ensure successful project execution.
• Support business development activities, including client engagement, proposal preparation, and project presentations.
• Mentor and develop junior planners and project team members.
• Ensure compliance with local planning regulations, municipal requirements, and international best practices.
• Promote sustainability, resilience, smart city initiatives, and transit‑oriented development principles in planning solutions.

About you

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, or a relevant field is preferred.
• Minimum 15+ years of professional experience in urban planning and master planning.
• Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale urban development, mixed‑use, infrastructure, and master planning projects.
• Strong knowledge of UAE planning frameworks, development regulations, and approval processes.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating with public and private stakeholders.
• Excellent understanding of land use planning, urban policy development, sustainability, and smart city principles.
• Strong report‑writing, presentation, and communication skills.
• Experience in client management and business development activities.
• Proficiency in GIS, planning analysis tools, and industry‑standard software.
• Professional membership with recognized planning institutions such as RTPI, APA, PIA, or equivalent is desirable.
• Ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously in a fast‑paced consultancy environment.

Rewards & benefits

• Tax‑free salary.
• Life insurance coverage.
• Medical insurance.
• Annual leave balance.
• Company gratuity scheme.
• Discretionary bonus program.
• Annual flight contribution.
• Transportation & housing allowances.
• Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, familycare, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.

About AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis, we connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. We are a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organization. Together, with industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. We’re connected to long‑standing organisations dating back to 1911, dedicated to building sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end‑to‑end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.

Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world‑class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.