Business Development Manager UAE

Safran.AI; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran.AI, based in Abu Dhabi, is looking for a Business Development Manager to drive sales initiatives across the MEA region. You will work autonomously to identify new business opportunities and collaborate with teams to design winning bids. The role demands frequent travel and an understanding of the defense sector.

The ideal candidate should possess strong communication skills and a Master’s degree, with at least 4 years of relevant experience in B2B/B2G sales. Fluency in both French and English is required, while Arabic proficiency is a plus.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of successful B2B/B2G sales, marketing, or bid management experience.
• Strong interest in defense and geopolitical intelligence.
• Willingness to travel frequently (up to 50% of working time).

Responsibilities

• Identify new business opportunities and clients in the MEA region.
• Execute the sales strategy aligning with company objectives.
• Work closely with Safran.AI teams to design and present winning bids.

Skills

B2B/B2G sales experience

Communication and negotiation skills

Fluency in French and English

Adaptability

Education

Master’s degree in Marketing, Sales, Engineering or related field

Job description

Safran.AI – AI That Operates in the Real World

A subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense, Safran.AI develops AI solutions applied to complex data such as high-resolution satellite imagery, FMV (Full Motion Video) streams, acoustic signals, and more. These solutions rely on algorithms capable of automatically detecting and identifying objects of interest in the defense, aerospace, and government sectors.

Since joining Safran in September 2024, Safran.AI has also contributed to the group’s transformation by applying AI solutions to Industry 4.0 initiatives. For example, AI-powered image analysis can assist inspectors responsible for examining critical components by helping them detect potential anomalies from digital images.

With a workforce of 250 employees, you will work within passionate, multidisciplinary teams that bring together some of the industry’s most recognized talents, all driven by a shared commitment to excellence and technological innovation.

To support Safran.AI’s international growth, we are recruiting a Business Development Manager to be based in Abu Dhabi. You will join the MEA Sales team within Safran.AI’s Sales & Marketing department, which brings together Sales, Business Development, Bid Management, and Marketing & Communication activities.

What’s at Stake in This Role

The objective is to identify new business opportunities, qualify them, and guide them through to the launch of the commercial project. We are also responsible for implementing the communications plan through concrete initiatives, whether at trade shows and industry events or by promoting our expertise in AI through conferences, speaking engagements, and similar activities. Our business operates on a global scale.

As a Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for all commercial activities with client accounts (institutional and industrial) and end users in the MEA region. Working autonomously, you will be expected to identify business opportunities, develop them, and successfully bring them to fruition by effectively leveraging Safran.AI’s internal resources and involving management at key stages.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring the successful execution of the sales strategy in alignment with the company’s objectives.
• Identifying new market opportunities, potential customers, key stakeholders and decision-makers, strategic partnerships, in order to expand the customer portfolio.
• Understanding the specific needs of key clients and anticipating their expectations.
• Working closely with Safran.AI team members to design tailored and winning bids (including scope framing, win‑price determination, commercial strategy, and highlighting our differentiators), in adherence with the bid & sales process.
• Working closely with the Product/Solution teams to present the features and benefits of the company’s products and services.
• Coordinating contract drafting in line with submitted bids; negotiating contracts with high‑level counterparts, often public and industrial, through to signature and entry into force.
• Analyzing market trends, competitive activities, and commercial data to refine and adapt sales strategies.
• Contributing to the organization and representing Safran.AI in various events: trade shows, conferences, symposiums, and more.
• Preparing regular reports on sales performance and achieved results, while ensuring that the CRM system is kept up to date.

About You

• Master’s degree in Marketing, Sales, Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of successful experience in B2B/B2G sales, marketing, or bid management in an international/export environment, ideally within the Middle East region.
• Strong interest in defense, sovereignty, and GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence) topics.
• Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic business environment.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, both written and verbal, with strong interpersonal abilities.
• Self‑motivated, detail‑oriented, and highly committed.
• Fluency in both French and English is required; proficiency in an additional language would be an asset.
• High mobility and willingness to travel frequently (up to 50% of working time).

Nice to have:

• Experience in the relevant geographic area.
• Proficiency in Arabic language would be an asset.

If you don’t meet 100% of the criteria above, don’t worry — feel free to tell us why you think you’d still be a great fit for this role!

Working Conditions

Regarding the type of contract, there are two possible scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Hiring a candidate based in France who will relocate to the site. In this case, a defense clearance will be required.
• Scenario 2: A local hiring with a local contract.
• Depending on the scenario selected, the benefits and compensation package may vary. These will be presented and detailed during the initial discussion with the Talent Acquisition teams.
• Based in Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates, this position requires a high degree of availability for frequent travel (customer and partner meetings, conferences, workshops), representing approximately 50% of working time.