Name: Mounir Haidar
Designation: Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Company: LEAD Development
Category: Developer Titans
With a career spanning 40 years across multiple continents, Haidar has established himself as a visionary leader in infrastructure and property development, leaving an indelible mark on skylines and communities around the world.
Haidar’s journey in the UAE’s real estate sector reads like a history of the region’s most iconic developments. As a key member in the planning and development of Dubai’s Palm Island, one of the world’s most ambitious artificial island projects, he demonstrated early on his ability to turn audacious visions into reality. His impressive track record includes serving as Chief Executive Officer for Sorouh Real Estate, a public joint stock company established in Abu Dhabi that managed a portfolio exceeding $10 billion in real estate projects. This experience equipped him with invaluable insights into the complexities of large-scale development and the nuances of the UAE market.
In 2010, Haidar’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found LEAD Development, a comprehensive real estate development company providing full-cycle services. Under his guidance, LEAD Development has planned and delivered master-planned communities across the UAE, most notably Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi’s premier sustainable waterfront destination with a combined portfolio value of over $7 billion.
His American education, a Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering and a BSc in Civil Engineering from Bradley University, Illinois, provided him with a solid technical foundation that complements his business acumen.
