Development Director - High-End Retail Project

Dokainish & Company; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consultancy firm is seeking an experienced Development Director to lead luxury retail delivery for a mixed-use project in Dubai. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years in luxury retail development, with proven success in high-end projects. Responsibilities include developing business plans, establishing financial KPIs, and ensuring retail spaces meet luxury standards. The role requires experience in tenant coordination and a degree in a relevant field. This is a full-time position based in Dubai, UAE.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in luxury retail development with 5+ years in leadership roles.
• Proven delivery of high-end retail projects.
• Deep understanding of luxury retail market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver comprehensive business plan for high-end retail offerings.
• Establish financial KPIs including cost estimates and leasing assumptions.
• Lead technical design ensuring retail spaces meet luxury standards.

Skills

Luxury retail development

Leadership

Financial modeling

Tenant coordination

Technical design

Project budgeting

Education

Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate Development, or related field

MBA preferred

Job description

Overview

About us: Dokainish& Company is a global organization thathas beenprovidingworld class professional consultancy servicessince 2011. We have recently launched our MENA operations, headquartered inAbu Dhabi inthe United ArabEmirates. Thisexpansion supports our strategy to serve government and private sector clients in capital projects across construction, infrastructure, energy, and commercial developments.

Dokainish& Company is seekinganexperiencedDevelopment Directorto lead high-end retail delivery for a mixed-use project in downtownDubai. From owningthe business plan, asset brief, and end-to-end deliveryof all luxury retail components,from concept refinement through handover. We need someone experiencedwith destination retail experiences that enhance project positioning while delivering financial performance. This is a full-timeposition,and the selected candidate must be based inDubai,or in theUAE, willing to independentlyrelocateto Dubai.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver comprehensive business plan and asset brief for high-end retail offerings
• Establish financial KPIs including cost estimates, leasing assumptions, NOI projections, and tenant incentive impacts
• Define retail mix, tenant profile strategy, and leasing parameters aligned to project positioning
• Lead technical design ensuring retail spaces meet luxury tenant requirements and destination retail standards
• Coordinate ground plane activation, circulation design, and retail-residential integration
• Manage consultant teams for retail-specific requirements (façade, signage, loading, back-of-house)
• Drive tenant coordination process—technical requirements, design approvals, fit-out standards
• Develop service charge structures ensuring operational sustainability without tenant resistance
• Coordinate with leasing team on space planning, tenant allowances, and delivery schedules
• Ensure retail delivery supports project launch and residential sales momentum
• Navigate authority approvals for retail licenses, F&B operations, and signage regulations

Qualifications

• 10+ years in luxury retail development with 5+ years in leadership roles
• Proven delivery of high-end retail projects (luxury malls, mixed-use retail, lifestyle destinations)
• Strong technical acumen across retail design, tenant coordination, and operational requirements
• Demonstrated ability to develop business cases, financial models, and leasing-driven cost frameworks
• Deep understanding of luxury retail market dynamics, tenant expectations, and destination retail trends
• Experience managing tenant coordination processes and fit-out delivery
• Track recordbalancing tenant requirements with developerobjectivesand budget discipline
• Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate Development, or related field; MBA preferred
• US, Canada, UK,or,Australian education preferred
• Dubai/GCC market experience essential

What Success looks like

• Business plan and asset brief delivered with clear leasing strategy and financial parameters
• Project delivered on budget with retail spaces meeting luxury tenant standards
• Retail mix achieves target tenant profile with strong leasing velocity
• Retail component enhances residential value proposition and project positioning
• Service charges competitive with operational costs fully covered

Note:Thisroledescription is intended to provide a general overview of the position.
It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or qualificationsrequired.