Development Director (Hospitality Projects)

Position Summary

Director of Development – Hospitality is to lead the planning, development, and execution of hospitality and mixed-use developments across the company’s portfolio. The role will oversee the full development lifecycle of hospitality assets including hotels, resorts, branded residences, serviced apartments, and lifestyle destinations.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in hospitality real estate development within the UAE/GCC market and demonstrate strong expertise in project feasibility, operator coordination, design management, commercial strategy, and stakeholder management.

Key Responsibilities

Development & Project Leadership

• Lead hospitality development projects from concept through design, construction, pre-opening, and handover.

• Manage the full project development cycle including feasibility studies, business planning, budgeting, design coordination, authority approvals, procurement strategy, and execution oversight.

• Ensure hospitality projects align with company's strategic vision, financial targets, and brand positioning.

Hospitality Strategy

• Develop and implement hospitality development strategies in line with tourism growth objectives.

• Identify opportunities for hotels, branded residences, resorts, waterfront destinations, and mixed-use hospitality developments.

• Conduct market research and benchmarking to assess trends, demand, and competitive positioning.

Operator & Brand Management

• Lead negotiations and coordination with international hotel operators, hospitality brands, and consultants.

• Oversee operator selection processes, management agreements, technical services agreements, and branding strategies.

• Ensure operator requirements are integrated efficiently into project design and development plans.

Financial & Commercial Oversight

• Review and evaluate project feasibility studies, development appraisals, and investment models.

• Monitor project budgets, timelines, risks, and commercial performance.

• Collaborate with finance, asset management, sales, and investment teams to maximize project value and ROI.

Design & Technical Coordination

• Oversee master planning, architectural design, and hospitality concept development.

• Coordinate with consultants, contractors, operators, and internal stakeholders to ensure project quality and compliance.

• Ensure projects meet luxury hospitality standards, operational efficiency, and guest experience expectations.

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with government authorities, tourism entities, consultants, investors, and joint venture partners.

• Present project updates and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and board members.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key hospitality industry stakeholders.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor development teams and external consultants.

• Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and delivery excellence.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture.

• Master’s Degree or MBA is preferred.

• Minimum 12–15 years of experience in real estate development, with significant exposure to hospitality developments within the UAE/GCC.

• Proven track record delivering hospitality projects such as hotels, resorts, branded residences, or mixed-use destinations.

• Strong understanding of hospitality operations, hotel management agreements, and development economics.

• Experience working with international hotel operators and luxury hospitality brands is essential.