Design Director jobs in United Arab Emirates

Are you a visionary Architectural Design Director who lives and breathes design, someone who can steer high-calibre design teams, inspire bold creative thinking, and elevate every detail of a project from concept to reality?

Our clientis searching for an Architectural Design Director to lead the design narrative across a growing portfolio of world-class luxury residential, hospitality, and boutique retail developments. Based in Dubai, you’ll be joining a practice known for its deep respect for place, culture, and contextual storytelling, delivering spaces that feel not only beautifully resolved, but deeply human.

• Set the design direction for high-profile, design-led projects that balance beauty, functionality, and client vision.
• Lead and mentor a team of architects and designers, continuing their culture of design excellence and collaboration.
• Take projects from initial concept through to completion, ensuring the design integrity is upheld at every stage.
• Oversee client presentations, design reviews, and stakeholder engagements with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external consultants to push creative boundaries while meeting project goals and timelines.
• Act as a design ambassador for the studio, contributing to business development, design competitions, and strategic growth.

• Minimum 15+ years of architectural experience, with a proven track record at design-led international firms.
• Strong experience in luxury residential, boutique hospitality and high-end retail architecture.
• Ability to lead and critique design with a sharp eye and deep understanding of proportion, materiality, and spatial storytelling.
• Exceptional portfolio that demonstrates creative leadership and an intuitive grasp of place, culture, and detail.
• Natural confidence in front of clients and stakeholders, with polished communication skills and the ability to inspire through narrative.
• Proficiency in conceptual tools (SketchUp, Rhino, Adobe Suite) and solid understanding of delivery processes.

• You’ll be working as part of a real up and coming architectural practice in UAE. They have expanded over the past few years, made an important acquisition and we’re working with them to find an important design director to grow their team further.
• Up to AED 55k per month + benefits.
• Flights

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. High-rise experience would be ideal Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. Demonstrated design capabilities showcased in your portfolio. Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, and Rhino.