Business Development Manager - Middle East

SilverDoor; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent housing solutions provider is seeking a proactive Business Development Manager to drive client acquisition in the Middle East. The role combines strategic planning and hands-on execution, requiring strong selling skills and relationship management. Candidates must have a successful background in sales within services, particularly in the hospitality or corporate housing sectors. This position involves developing acquisition strategies and managing client relationships from initial contact through delivery, with regular travel across the Gulf region.

Qualifications

• Strong direct selling experience is essential.
• Experience in selling services, particularly in business travel or hospitality.
• Proven success in relationship management with high-value clients.

Responsibilities

• Identify and convert new business leads through various methods.
• Own the sales process from opportunity to contract closing.
• Develop client acquisition strategies and maintain relationships.

Skills

Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Excellent negotiation and persuasion skills

Strategic thinking

Strong networking ability

Proficient in PowerPoint, Excel, Word

Tools

CRM/sales databases

Job description

We are seeking a proactive and ambitious Business Development Manager to drive new client acquisition and profitable revenue growth across the Middle East.

This individual contributor role combines strategic planning with hands‑on execution, identifying, pursuing, and closing opportunities in the serviced apartment, corporate housing, and extended stay sectors.

Success will require consultative selling, cultural fluency, and the ability to build trusted relationships while leveraging data‑driven insights to meet and exceed revenue target.

Business Development

• Identify, research, prospect, and convert new business leads through networking, cold calling, referrals, and industry events
• Own the end‑to‑end sales process, from initial opportunity through negotiation, contract closing, and handover to delivery
• Pitch SilverDoor’s value proposition to multiple decision‑makers, tailoring solutions to client needs
• Develop and implement client acquisition strategies, measuring success against agreed revenue and performance targets
• Structure and manage new client acquisition effectively within defined geographic territories
• Maintain a comprehensive and accurate pipeline using the company CRM, providing regular reporting on activity, forecasts, and performance
• Attend and represent the company at networking events, conferences, and client meetings
• Recommend tailored or additional services to create competitive advantage and maximise client value

Client & Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong, long‑term relationships with new and existing clients
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, including engagement at executive and senior decision‑maker level
• Ensure a smooth transition from sale to delivery and maintain ongoing relationships post‑contract to support retention and growth
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of industry trends, market conditions, and competitor activity, feeding insights back into the wider business

Travel and Working Requirements

• Based out of SilverDoor’s Dubai office
• Regular travel required across the Gulf region for client meetings, networking events, and conferences
• Additional international travel may be required on occasion in line with business needs
• Must be fully eligible to travel for business purposes

Experience

• Strong direct selling experience is essential for this role
• Experience selling services, as opposed to product selling, is highly preferred i.e. Travel Management Company (TMC), Relocation Management Company (RMC), Destination Service Provider (DSP) or Serviced Apartment background is desirable
• A background in hospitality, particularly in the Extended Stay, Hotel, or Corporate Housing sectors, is desirable
• Business Travel & HR Mobility: Experience in selling within business travel, HR, or mobility services is advantageous
• Proven success in building and maintaining relationships with large, high‑value clients is a must
• Demonstrated experience selling to executive‑level prospects is required

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, confident in face‑to‑face and executive‑level client engagement
• Excellent negotiation, persuasion, and closing skills
• Strategic, commercial thinker with a competitive drive to win
• Highly organised with strong numeracy and reporting capability
• Collaborative approach to selling and working with internal stakeholders and international teams
• Strong networking ability and relationship‑building skills
• Self‑motivated, ambitious, and tenacious
• Proficient in PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and CRM/sales databases