Cities are more than concrete and steel — they are the environments where people live, work, and connect. The way we design shared spaces profoundly impacts social interaction, economic resilience, and long-term sustainability.

In the UAE, where rapid urbanization intersects with cultural diversity, designing community spaces is not just an aesthetic exercise but a strategic necessity.

Over the past several decades, the UAE has experienced significant urbanisation, with Abu Dhabi’s built-up area expanding from 0.5 square kilometres in 1955 to 758 square kilometres in 2018, and Dubai’s built-up area growing from 54 square kilometres in 1975 to 977 square kilometres in 2015. As of 2020, nearly 64 million square metres of built-up area in the UAE adhered to local green building regulations.

The UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Community’ under the theme ‘Hand in Hand’ signals a national commitment to strengthening social bonds and inclusive growth. This is a pivotal moment for developers, and urban planners to move beyond conventional urban development and create spaces that actively contribute to economic vibrancy, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability.

Key considerations in designing ideal community spaces

Honor cultural heritage while embracing the future: A well-designed community space should reflect and celebrate its cultural roots while remaining adaptable to contemporary needs.

Heritage elements — such as traditional architecture, courtyards, and shaded pathways — can be integrated into modern designs to maintain authenticity while ensuring long-term functionality. Developers should prioritise designs that feel culturally familiar yet offer modern conveniences, fostering a sense of place and continuity.

Embed sustainability at every level: Future-ready community spaces must be climate-conscious, incorporating passive design strategies, renewable energy solutions, and resource-efficient materials. This means designing spaces that mitigate urban heat islands, optimise natural ventilation, and reduce energy consumption. Features like shaded pedestrian corridors, solar-powered amenities, and water-sensitive landscaping should be embedded into urban design from the outset — not as afterthoughts.

Prioritise inclusivity and universal accessibility: An effective community space is one where every resident — regardless of age, ability, or background—feels welcome and engaged. Ensuring accessibility goes beyond meeting regulatory requirements; it requires proactive planning.

Developers should integrate wheelchair-friendly pathways, multilingual signage, sensory-friendly zones, and culturally inclusive programming to make public spaces truly welcoming for all. A great example of this in the UAE is the AccessAbilities Expo, held annually in Dubai, which brings together solution providers, equipment manufacturers, and education entities to enhance accessibility and inclusion.

Leverage technology for smarter, more responsive spaces: In an era of smart cities, community spaces should incorporate technology that enhances usability, engagement, and sustainability. Interactive wayfinding, responsive lighting, and digital feedback kiosks can make spaces more user-friendly.

Meanwhile, solar-powered public infrastructure and AI-driven resource management systems can optimise energy use while keeping operational costs low. Urban planners should view technology not as a luxury, but as an essential tool for efficiency and engagement.

Integrate art and cultural programming for vibrancy: Community spaces flourish when they become platforms for artistic expression, cultural exchange, and public engagement. Art installations, performance spaces, and rotating cultural programs turn static spaces into dynamic environments that evolve with the community.

Planners should ensure that public spaces are designed with the flexibility to host events, exhibitions, and pop-up activations that keep them lively and relevant.

Align development with long-term urban strategy: Community spaces should not be designed in isolation—they must be woven into a city’s broader urban framework. Strategic land-use planning should ensure that parks, plazas, and public gathering spaces complement surrounding residential, commercial, and institutional developments.

Cities that plan holistically ensure that these spaces remain adaptable, well-maintained, and financially viable over time.

Position educational institutions as community anchors: Educational institutions — schools, universities, and research centres — can serve as pillars of community engagement, talent attraction, and knowledge exchange.

Cities should integrate educational hubs with coworking spaces, libraries, and mentorship initiatives to create ecosystems that foster continuous learning and collaboration.

Designing for the future: Redefining the blueprint for inclusive, sustainable, and technologically advanced community spaces requires intentionality. Urban planners and developers must work together to create spaces that do more than exist — they must serve as active, evolving centers of human interaction.

Industry stakeholders should take concrete steps, such as reaching out to local authorities for policy integration, participating in industry forums and summits, and partnering with advocacy groups to ensure that community design is inclusive, future-proof, and responsive to societal needs.

Amir H. Greiss is the founder and CEO of SharpMinds Consulting Engineers.

Building a transformative startup takes more than a breakthrough idea or a compelling pitch. It demands the right conditions, a space where ambition can breathe, connections ignite and momentum takes root.

Increasingly, it’s the surrounding environment – the networks, the narratives, and support systems, that defines the scale and speed of a founder’s journey.

Entrepreneurial success rarely stems from talent alone. Behind every bold idea lies a web of invisible forces – cultural cues, access to capital, proximity to mentors and openness to risk – all of which shape the founder’s path. Yet these forces are often overshadowed by tales of individual brilliance.

In reality, innovation is not just born; it is cultivated – influenced by the setting in which it is imagined, validated and brought to life.

How entrepreneurial hubs are evolving

Gradually, a quiet shift is underway. New entreneurial hubs are no longer defined solely by location, but by their ability to merge purpose, policy, and possibility.

From repurposed industrial zones to remagined urban centres, cities now compete not just to host startups – but to earn their belief.

Cities like Singapore and Berlin exemplify this shift, blending infrastructure with intent and community with capital.

The UAE is part of this global momentum. With national strategies focused on innovation, economic diversification and ease of doing business, the country has become a magnet for both founders and investors.

Dubai, for instance was recently ranked among the world’s top 10 emerging ecosystems by Startup Genome – a sign of how policy, ambition and entrepreneurial energy are converging to create fertile ground for innovation.

This momentum is underpinned by tangible enablers – with 100 per cent foreign ownershop options, simplified company setup processes and a regulatory environment designed to attract high-growth ventures, Dubai continues to lower barriers for founders to launch and scale.

What founders of startups are looking for today

Founders today want ecosystems that move with them – that recognise the urgency of their ideas, the fragility of early-stage ventures and the value of visibility. The most effective startup environments act as amplifiers: connecting ambition to opportunity, and vision to the systems that can sustain it.

At a micro level, places like Station F in Paris – one of the world’s largest startup campuses – provide curated access to mentorship, corporate partnerships and community support that accelerate early growth. Zooming out, at the macro level, the broader ecosystem effect is undeniable: according to Startup Genome, Silicon Valley alone contributes 59 per centof the total ecosystem value among the top five global hubs – a clear sign of how world-leading environments concentrate capital, credibility and catalytic networks. These places have evolved beyond locations – they are launchpads for entirely new economies.

Nowhere is this evolution more visible than in places rethinking their role in the founder journey. Expo City Dubai, once the site of a global exposition, is one such case. As the production site for the Dubai edition of The Final Pitch, it offers a timely lens into how physical spaces can transform into platforms for entrepreneurship.

Filming in Expo City has underscored the value of environments where sustainability, mobility and innovation aren’t just themes – but embedded systems that enable founders to build with pace and purpose. It’s a reminder that the infrastructure of entrepreneurship extends beyond accelerators and capital. It’s about the full context that surrounds and supports the journey.

A similar example is London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, originally built for the 2012 Games, now home to innovation clusters and creative industries.

Spending time with founders on the ground has made one thing clear: today’s entrepreneurs aren’t just building companies – they’re navigating systems. Many of the founders featured on The Final Pitch are immigrants and expats. For them, the challenge wasn’t just capital or product-market fit, but finding a community they could belong to.

It’s much about narrative as it is about numbers

In many ways, the startup journey is as much about narrative as it is about numbers. A founder’s ability to communicate vision – not just to investors, but to entire ecosystems – can dictate the pace of progress. This is where the ‘stage’ becomes more than metaphor. Whether it’s a pitch floor, a public forum, or a screen, the environment in which ideas are revealed plays a powerful role in how they’re received.

As the global map of entrepreneurship continues to redraw itself, one thing is clear: the next wave of founders won’t be searching for capital, they’ll be seeking context. The ecosystems that rise to meet them will be those that go beyond co-working spaces and funding rounds, and start designing for belief, momentum and meaning. The future of entrepreneurship will belong not only to those who build – but to those who build in the right place, at the right time, with the right story behind them.

The writer is the creator and host of The Final Pitch.

The UAE has declared a public holiday for both the private and public sector on Friday, September 5, to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources announced the holiday for ministries and federal entities in a circular shared on social media.

Read: UAE announces public holiday for govt employees on Prophet’s birthday

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation later confirmed that the same holiday would apply to the private sector.

أصدرت الهيئة تعميماً إلى كافة الوزارات والجهات الاتحادية بشأن عطلة المولد النبوي الشريف في الحكومة الاتحادية، للعام 1447هــ. وبناء على التوجهات الصادرة في هذا

الشأن، فقد تقرر أن تكون عطلة المولد النبوي الشريف يوم الجمعة الموافق 5 سبتمبر 2025 . pic.twitter.com/CvlMRfVppf

— FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) August 26, 2025

Holiday on Prophet’s birthday can mean 3-day weekend for some

Private and public sector employees who generally have the weekends off will enjoy a three-day break.

The UAE is set to enjoy the next public holiday on Eid Al Etihad (previously National Day), on December 2 and December 3.

Read: Planning your next break? Here’s the list of UAE public holidays in 2025

ENOC Group’s YES Rewards programme has partnered with GEMS Rewards, the loyalty platform of GEMS Education, to allow members to exchange points across both networks.

The initiative, powered by Loyyal’s Xpand Point platform, will enable customers to redeem points for fuel, retail, and lifestyle offers through YES Rewards, as well as discounts, deals, and contributions towards school fees via GEMS Rewards.

Hussain Sultan Lootah, acting group CEO of ENOC, said: “We are pleased to establish this partnership with GEMS Education, which reflects our group’s commitment to leading efforts that generate substantial and widespread positive impact on our nation. Through this collaboration, we aim to contribute to the development of a skilled and empowered generation, which is vital for the sustainable progress and future prosperity of our country.”

GEMS Rewards serves more than 300,000 members, including parents, staff and friends of the GEMS Education community, offering discounts, lifestyle offers and tuition fee redemption.

GEMS Rewards joining forces with YES Rewards unlocks benefits

Dino Varkey, group chief executive of GEMS Education, said: “We are delighted to partner with YES Rewards, one of the UAE’s most trusted and recognised loyalty programmes.

“This collaboration gives our families even more value in their everyday lives – including every litre bought at the ENOC filling station – and underlines our commitment to benefiting them in ever-increasing ways.”

Ashish Kumar Singh, CEO of Loyyal, added: “With GEMS Rewards joining forces with YES Rewards, we are excited to create a dynamic loyalty ecosystem that allows members to maximise their rewards through effortless point exchanges, all powered by Loyyal’s innovative technology.”

The partnership comes ahead of the new school year and highlights a joint effort to extend customer benefits from petrol stations to education networks.

Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah is gearing up for its much-anticipated opening in early 2027 with a large-scale recruitment campaign underway.

At the time of writing, the future resort has 84 positions listed on its official careers website and LinkedIn, most of which were posted in the past month.

The hiring drive reflects the vast scale of Wynn’s debut in the UAE. Construction began in early 2023 on the Dhs12.4bn project, which will feature 1,530 rooms and suites, 22 private villas, 22 restaurants and lounges, a theatre, nightclub, a five-star spa, a 15,000 sqm shopping esplanade, and a 7,500 sqm events centre.

The latest update on the project, published in February, indicated that construction was progressing with 64 per cent of the structural concrete completed up to the 34th floor of the main resort tower, and elevator cores extending to the 36th floor. The construction team had been completing one floor per week, working toward a topping-off in December of this year. By February, the resort tower had reached approximately 140 feet in height.

The resort will be regulated by the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, which oversees all commercial gaming activity in the country.

Read more: Latest pictures: See how RAK’s Wynn Al Marjan is shaping up

From community managers to fine dining

The array of published job openings stretches across marketing, hospitality, IT, data science, finance, fine dining, events and guest services.

Notably, Wynn is recruiting four vice presidents of casino marketing: each focused on a different region: MENA, Domestic UAE, Asia & Far East, and Europe/Rest of World. These senior hires underline the resort’s ambition to attract high-value guests globally.

According to one listing, the Vice President of Casino Marketing Asia & Far East will “develop and implement targeted marketing strategies to increase market share within key Asian and Far East regions,” while the European/ROW counterpart will be expected to “expand a high-value clientele from Europe, North America, Latin America, Oceania, and Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Other postings highlight Wynn’s push into lifestyle, entertainment, and digital. An Influencer Community Manager role calls for someone to “plan and run always-on creator programmes and campaign bursts across GCC and priority markets.” The Director of Special Events, meanwhile, is tasked with delivering “spectacular occasions that reflect Wynn’s reputation for world-class entertainment,” while a posting for Executive Chefs notes the need to “curate exceptional dining experiences that embody the artistry and precision of fine gastronomy.”

Read more: From half marathons to Wynn Resort: Why RAK is the UAE’s next big tourism powerhouse

Technical positions include a Full Stack Python Developer, Machine Learning Engineer, and multiple data science leads. The opportunities also include job openings for croupiers, housekeeping attendants, event managers and guest services staff.

Wynn Al Marjan Island is positioned as a landmark destination within Ras Al Khaimah’s wider tourism growth. Visitor numbers to the emirate reached 1.22 million in 2023, a 24 per cent rise on the previous year, with a goal of over 3 million annual visitors by 2030, according to the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA). Al Marjan Island itself is expected to host more than 20 new residential and hospitality developments.

A full list of the current 84 job postings, at the time of writing, is published below.

Current job openings at Wynn Al Marjan Island

• Director – Entertainment Marketing

• Head of Learning & Development

• Influencer Community Manager

• IT Access Administrator

• Supervisor – Staff Accommodation Dining

• Hotel Controller – Hotel Accounting

• Product Manager

• Lead Data Engineer

• Assistant Manager Housing/Social

• Administrative Assistant

• Executive Chef – Outlet (Casual Dining)

• Executive Chef – Outlet (Fine Dining)

• Director – Call Center

• Public Relations Officer – Government Relations

• Event Sales Manager

• Sales Systems Manager

• Guest Room Attendant – Housekeeping

• Talent Acquisition Onboarder

• Director of Special Events

• Full Stack Python Developer

• Designer I – Advertising / Brand Marketing

• Housekeeping Team Lead

• Housekeeping Attendant

• Talent Acquisition Manager

• Recruiter – Talent Acquisition

• Administrative Assistant – Casino Marketing

• Manager CRM Strategy – Casino Marketing

• Executive Assistant – Executive Office

• Asset Administrator – IT

• Principle Lighting Technician External

• Principle Lighting Technician Internal

• Machine Learning Engineer

• Engineer Site Reliability – IT Operations Eng & Support

• Principle Engineer – Lighting

• Director of Data Science

• Director of Business Intelligence – Data Science

• Executive Director of Food and Beverage

• Coordinator – Learning & Development

• Coordinator – Government Relations

• Graphic Designer – Employee Experience & Communications

• Senior Coordinator – Benefits Administration

• Assistant Casino Manager – Table Games Operations

• Croupier – Table Games

• Supervisor – Receiving

• Manager – Uniform Control

• Manager – Travel Industry Sales

• Payroll Manager

• Manager Accounts Receivable

• Manager Revenue Management

• Assistant Manager Accounts Payable

• Accounts Payable Clerk

• Casino Controller

• Administrative Assistant – Finance

• Manager – Security and Crisis Management Training

• Director of Operations – Nightlife

• Technician PC – IT Operations Eng & Support

• Senior Data Engineer – Systems Architecture, Design & Development

• Vice President – Casino Marketing MENA

• Director of Food and Beverage – Fine Dining

• Maintenance Manager Podium

• Executive Coordinator – Nightlife Marketing

• Government Relation Manager

• Digital Content Creator – Learning & Development

• Manager – HRIS & Reporting

• Executive Director – Corporate Investigations

• Vice President – Revenue Management

• Lead Electrical Engineer ELV Systems

• Director of Weddings & Events

• Landscape Manager Plot

• Manager – Wedding & Social Events

• Vice President – Casino Marketing Domestic (UAE)

• Assistant Director of Casual Dining – Food and Beverage Administration

• Vice President – Casino Marketing European/ROW

• Vice President – Casino Marketing Asia & Far East

• Lead Engineer Kitchen and Laundry

• Manager – Accounts Payable

• Manager – General Ledger

• Assistant Manager – General Ledger

• Director of Loyalty Marketing

• Manager Insurance – Finance

• General Manager – Outlet (Casual Dining)

• General Manager – Outlet (Fine Dining)

• Director of VIP Services – Food and Beverage

• Director – Front Office