Executive Director of Development

Digby Morris Executive Search & Talent Acquisition; Dubai; On-site; AED 1,175,000 - 2,350,000; Full time

Job summary

Digby Morris Executive Search & Talent Acquisition is seeking an Executive Director – Hospitality Development to lead a major Saudi Arabia hospitality portfolio through development and delivery. This senior role requires relocation to KSA and oversight from feasibility through operator integration and operational readiness.

You will drive strategy, asset positioning and commercial performance across luxury hotels, resorts and large-scale mixed-use assets, guiding cross-functional teams to

Qualifications

• 25+ years of experience in real estate development with substantial exposure to hospitality assets.
• Proven track record delivering luxury hotels, resorts or large-scale mixed-use hospitality portfolios.
• Strong understanding of the full development lifecycle from feasibility to handover.
• Experience negotiating and working with international hotel operators.
• Commercially astute with expertise in development economics, asset positioning and value creation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• GCC experience advantageous; international candidates are encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of a multi-asset hospitality portfolio from concept to completion and opening.
• Drive development strategy, feasibility, asset positioning, phasing and commercial optimization.
• Oversee design, budgets, programme delivery, risks and key investment decisions.
• Manage relationships with international hotel operators, consultants and delivery partners.
• Ensure alignment between operator requirements, design standards, guest experience and commercial objectives.
• Provide executive governance and leadership across multiple projects and teams.

Skills

Real estate development

Hospitality portfolio

Leadership

Stakeholder management

GCC experience

Job description

Executive Director – Hospitality Development

This position requires relocation to Saudi Arabia - pls do not apply if you are unable to relocate to KSA

The Opportunity

A major master-planned developer in Saudi Arabia is seeking an Executive Director – Hospitality Development to lead a substantial portfolio of hotel and resort assets through development and delivery.

With a significant hospitality pipeline spanning luxury hotels, resorts and lifestyle destinations, this is a senior leadership appointment with responsibility for portfolio strategy, asset positioning, commercial performance and end-to-end development execution.

The successful candidate will oversee multiple developments from initial feasibility and concept through design, construction, operator integration and operational readiness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a multi-asset hospitality portfolio, from concept through to completion and opening.
• Drive development strategy, feasibility, asset positioning, phasing and commercial optimisation.
• Oversee design, budgets, programme delivery, development risks and key investment decisions.
• Manage relationships with international hotel operators, consultants and delivery partners.
• Ensure alignment between operator requirements, design standards, guest experience and commercial objectives.
• Provide executive-level governance and leadership across multiple projects and development teams.

Candidate Profile

• 25+ years' experience in real estate development, with substantial exposure to hospitality assets.
• Proven track record delivering luxury hotels, resorts or large-scale mixed-use hospitality portfolios.
• Strong understanding of the full development lifecycle, from investment feasibility to operational handover.
• Experience negotiating and working with international hotel operators.
• Commercially astute, with demonstrable expertise in development economics, asset positioning and value creation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• GCC experience advantageous, although international candidates are encouraged.

This appointment offers responsibility for a significant hospitality development pipeline within one of Saudi Arabia's major master-planned developments.