Director - Real Estate Development

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 502,000 - 725,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Futtaim in Dubai is seeking a Director of Development to provide strategic and commercial leadership across the full lifecycle of major real estate projects. You will integrate market intelligence, feasibility assessment, financial control, development planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement to shape opportunities into profitable assets.

The role requires coordinating design, finance, procurement, sustainability, and commercial priorities, directing multidisciplinary teams, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Business, or another relevant discipline.
• 10–15 years of professional experience in real estate development.
• Experience delivering large-scale or complex developments across multiple asset classes.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic plans for real estate developments aligned with objectives and portfolio priorities.
• Identify new development opportunities through market research, demand analysis and feasibility assessment.
• Evaluate projects across residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, mixed-use, and other asset classes.

Skills

Real estate development

Development leadership

Market analysis

Feasibility studies

Financial modeling

Budgeting

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Negotiation

Portfolio planning

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate

Job description

Role Context

The Director of Development will provide strategic and commercial leadership across the full lifecycle of major real estate projects. The position combines market intelligence, feasibility assessment, financial control, development planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and multidisciplinary project coordination. The role will help determine which development opportunities should proceed, how projects should be positioned, and how financial and operational risks should be managed. By aligning design, finance, procurement, project management, sustainability, and commercial priorities, the Director will help convert land and development opportunities into profitable and resilient real estate assets.

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Real Estate
• Function: Real Estate
• Salary: 45000-65000
• Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.
• Gender: Any
• Candidate Nationality: Any
• Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Director of Development will provide strategic and commercial leadership across the full lifecycle of major real estate projects. The position combines market intelligence, feasibility assessment, financial control, development planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and multidisciplinary project coordination. The role will help determine which development opportunities should proceed, how projects should be positioned, and how financial and operational risks should be managed. By aligning design, finance, procurement, project management, sustainability, and commercial priorities, the Director will help convert land and development opportunities into profitable and resilient real estate assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop strategic plans for real estate developments in line with organizational objectives and long-term portfolio priorities.
• Identify new development opportunities through market research, demand analysis, competitor benchmarking, and feasibility assessment.
• Evaluate potential projects across residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, mixed-use, and other asset classes.
• Prepare and review development briefs outlining project objectives, market positioning, scope, investment assumptions, and delivery requirements.
• Lead financial planning activities covering development budgets, forecasts, cash flows, returns, and capital requirements.
• Review financial models and assess project viability under different market and development scenarios.
• Monitor project costs and financial performance and initiate corrective action where returns or budgets are at risk.
• Manage development projects from inception through design, procurement, construction, completion, and handover.
• Establish milestone requirements and maintain visibility of progress against approved development programmes.
• Coordinate closely with finance, architecture, design, procurement, construction, project management, and commercial teams.
• Maintain productive relationships with financial institutions, consultants, contractors, authorities, and other external stakeholders.
• Represent development priorities during senior stakeholder meetings and communicate project progress, risks, and decisions clearly.
• Identify market, financial, technical, regulatory, and operational risks affecting projects.
• Develop mitigation strategies that protect project viability, programme performance, and organizational interests.
• Ensure developments comply with applicable local regulations, planning requirements, safety obligations, and sustainability standards.
• Integrate environmental responsibility and green building principles into development planning and project delivery.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and innovative development solutions that can improve asset performance or customer experience.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and encourage strong collaboration across complex project environments.
• Mentor team members and support continued development of commercial, technical, and leadership capability.
• Prepare detailed reports for senior management covering milestones, financial performance, risks, opportunities, and key decisions.
• Maintain accurate development documentation, feasibility studies, approvals, financial reports, and governance records.
• Support strategic portfolio decisions by providing clear recommendations on development priorities and investment opportunities.

Ideal Profile

Candidates should hold a Bachelor 's Degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Business, or another relevant discipline and bring approximately 10-15 years of professional experience in real estate development. A proven track record delivering large-scale or complex developments is essential. Experience across multiple asset classes will provide significant value, particularly for professionals who have worked on residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, or mixed-use projects. Candidates should demonstrate strong financial modeling, feasibility assessment, budgeting, development management, and project risk capabilities. Knowledge of Dubai and wider regional real estate markets, regulations, planning environments, and industry trends is important. Previous development experience within the MENA region is preferred. The successful professional will combine commercial judgment with leadership, negotiation, analytical thinking, and the ability to coordinate complex stakeholder groups throughout long development cycles.

Skills Set

• Real estate development
• Development strategy
• Market analysis
• Feasibility studies
• Financial modeling
• Development budgeting
• Financial forecasting
• Project viability analysis
• Development lifecycle management
• Mixed-use development
• Residential development
• Commercial development
• Retail development
• Hospitality development
• Portfolio planning
• Stakeholder management
• Consultant management
• Contractor coordination
• Regulatory compliance
• Development risk management
• Market risk analysis
• Financial risk assessment
• Project reporting
• Development briefs
• Sustainability
• Green building standards
• Innovation management
• Investment analysis
• MENA real estate
• Development leadership

Why Join Us

This role provides the opportunity to influence major real estate investments from early concept through completed development, with direct impact on portfolio growth, financial performance, market positioning, and long-term asset value. Dubai continues to offer a highly active development environment where experienced professionals capable of balancing commercial returns, market demand, sustainability, and delivery risk remain in strong demand. Al-Futtaim provides exposure to a multi-billion-dollar regional real estate portfolio spanning residential, business, retail, tourism, education, healthcare, and large-scale mixed-use destinations. The position offers substantial scope to lead complex developments, influence investment strategy, and progress toward broader executive responsibility within real estate development and portfolio leadership.

About the Company

Al-Futtaim is a diversified privately held regional business headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Established in the 1930s, the Group operates across automotive, financial services, real estate, retail, and healthcare, employing more than 35000 people across over 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Al-Futtaim partners with more than 200 international brands and continues to expand through customer-focused operations, strategic investment, and long-term regional growth.