Name: Josef Kleindienst
Designation: Founder and Chairman
Company: Kleindienst Group
Category: Developer Titans
Josef Kleindienst, an Austrian entrepreneur with over 38 years of experience, is the founder and chairman of the Kleindienst Group, a dynamic conglomerate that spans real estate development, construction, yacht building, hospitality, sustainable energy, and more. Under his leadership, the group has been at the forefront of some of the UAE’s most innovative and ambitious projects.
Kleindienst’s flagship project, The Heart of Europe, is a groundbreaking sustainable destination located on the UAE’s World Islands. This visionary development features the world’s first Floating Seahorse Villas, underwater living experiences, a climate-controlled Raining Street, and the Coral Institute, the largest privately-owned marine life rehabilitation centre. The project, a car-free and pollution-free paradise, aims to redefine luxury living and tourism with its unique blend of sustainability and extraordinary experiences. It will eventually host over 20 hotels and resorts, thousands of residential units, and create thousands of jobs.
In 2024, the Kleindienst Group expanded its reach by starting the construction of four shipyards in Ras Al Khaimah and entered into a significant partnership with IHG Hotels and Resorts to launch an InterContinental Resort Portofino, expected to open in 2026.
Beyond his development achievements, Josef’s leadership has solidified Kleindienst Group as the number one European developer in the UAE. He also plays a key role in fostering FDI into the UAE as the leader of the Austrian Business Centre.
