Retail Leasing Manager - Portfolio Strategy

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 246,000 - 357,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Futtaim Retail in Dubai seeks a Retail Leasing Manager - Portfolio Strategy to lead regional lease negotiations, store expansion, and portfolio optimization for an international retail portfolio.

The role requires an experienced retail leasing professional who can secure prime locations, manage renewals, and analyze property performance to support profitable expansion across MENA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in retail leasing or real estate.
• Experience in multinational retail or regional portfolios is a plus.
• Strong negotiating and financial assessment skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage retail leasing transactions from evaluation to documentation.
• Source prime locations for existing brands and expansion.
• Negotiate rentals, incentives, and renewal terms.
• Coordinate contract reviews and lease documentation.
• Develop location roll-out plans aligned with brand strategy.
• Analyze portfolio performance to identify optimization opportunities.

Skills

Retail leasing

Real estate acquisition

Lease negotiation

Lease administration

Portfolio management

Property sourcing

Landlord negotiation

Commercial analysis

Store expansion

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, or a related discipline

Job description

Job Snapshot

Job Snapshot Role: Retail Leasing Manager - Portfolio Strategy Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Role Overview

Retail Leasing Manager - Portfolio Strategy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Retail hiring opportunity focused on regional lease negotiations, store expansion, portfolio optimization, property acquisition, and commercial performance across MENA. The role requires an experienced retail leasing professional who can secure prime locations, negotiate competitive commercial terms, manage renewals and exits, analyze property performance, and support profitable expansion for an international portfolio of retail brands.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Retail Function: Real Estate Leasing-Acquisition Salary: 22000-32000 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 Retail Leasing Manager connects brand expansion plans with commercially viable real estate opportunities across the regional store portfolio. The position combines transaction management, lease administration, financial analysis, landlord negotiation, and portfolio strategy. Decisions made in this role directly influence occupancy costs, store profitability, expansion timelines, and long-term retail presence, requiring careful evaluation of both commercial opportunities and contractual exposure.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage retail leasing transactions across the assigned portfolio from initial evaluation and negotiation through documentation and formalization.
• Source suitable prime retail locations for existing brands, new market entries, and planned store expansion.
• Negotiate rentals, commercial clauses, incentives, lease periods, renewal terms, and other conditions that support sustainable store economics.
• Coordinate contract reviews, legal assessments, payment processing, approvals, and lease documentation.
• Maintain accurate leasing systems, transaction trackers, renewal schedules, property records, and supporting documentation.
• Develop location roll-out plans in line with individual brand expansion strategies and commercial priorities.
• Analyze existing store and property performance to identify opportunities for rental reductions, renegotiation, relocation, or portfolio optimization.
• Manage lease renewals proactively and negotiate competitive terms before contractual deadlines.
• Lead negotiations for early surrender or termination of underperforming locations while minimizing financial exposure.
• Build productive relationships with landlords, mall operators, developers, agents, and relevant internal stakeholders.
• Prepare regular leasing reports covering transactions, renewals, occupancy costs, portfolio activity, and strategic opportunities.
• Present leasing recommendations, property assessments, and brand expansion proposals to management.
• Work with the legal function to review contractual obligations and identify potential lease risks before commitments are finalized.
• Coordinate between landlords and Store Development teams during new store openings, closures, relocations, and renovations.
• Maintain regional property intelligence including mall information, floor plans, location details, and relevant market data.
• Support business divisions in preparing feasibility assessments for proposed projects and locations.
• Provide leasing and commercial inputs for proposals submitted to the Retail Investment Committee.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of leasing policies, controls, processes, and reporting frameworks.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor 's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in retail leasing, property leasing, or real estate management.
• Experience within a multinational, large retail group, shopping mall environment, or regional property portfolio is advantageous.
• Strong record of negotiating retail leases and commercially significant property transactions.
• Ability to assess rental structures, occupancy costs, lease obligations, and financial implications.
• Strong relationship management skills when dealing with landlords and internal business stakeholders.
• Experience managing lease renewals, terminations, contract documentation, and transaction trackers.
• Analytical capability to evaluate portfolio performance and support location decisions.
• Understanding of retail expansion, store roll-outs, renovations, relocations, and closures.
• Ability to interpret market trends and use property intelligence to support negotiation strategies.
• Strong presentation and reporting capabilities for communicating recommendations to management.
• Commercial judgement to balance brand requirements, property quality, financial returns, and contractual exposure.

Skills Set

• Retail leasing
• Real estate acquisition
• Lease negotiation
• Lease administration
• Retail portfolio management
• Property sourcing
• Landlord negotiation
• Commercial lease analysis
• Rental negotiation
• Lease renewals
• Lease surrender and termination
• Occupancy cost analysis
• Portfolio performance analysis
• Retail site selection
• Store expansion planning
• Store roll-out coordination
• Property market analysis
• Lease documentation
• Contract review
• Financial feasibility analysis
• Property tracking systems
• Mall floor plan analysis
• Stakeholder management
• Retail investment proposals
• Commercial risk assessment
• Management reporting

Why Join Us

Regional retail expansion creates sustained demand for specialists who can secure high-quality locations while maintaining disciplined occupancy costs and commercial terms. This position offers exposure to a diverse portfolio of international retail brands and complex leasing transactions across MENA. It provides meaningful influence over store expansion, portfolio profitability, lease optimization, and investment decisions while building deeper expertise in multi-market retail real estate.

About the Company

Al-Futtaim Retail operates an extensive portfolio of international brands across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its partnerships span major names in fashion, home furnishings, lifestyle, and consumer retail, supported by a regional network of stores and continued market expansion. As part of Al-Futtaim Group, the business combines international brand partnerships with regional operating expertise and long-term investment in retail growth.