Senior Manager - Mall Development

Majid Al Futtaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Majid Al Futtaim in Dubai is looking for a Senior Manager - Mall Development to lead major shopping mall, mixed‑use, retail, hospitality and lifestyle development projects. You will oversee feasibility, planning, design, execution, operational readiness and handover, coordinating multiple internal units, external consultants, authorities, investors and partners.

The role requires strong commercial judgement, development expertise and ability to guide complex projects valued from AED 500 million

Qualifications

• Minimum 11 years of experience in real estate development.
• Experience managing complex development projects from feasibility through delivery.
• Strong knowledge of development strategy, market analysis, feasibility studies, business cases, and masterplanning.

Responsibilities

• Lead development workstreams from opportunity assessment, feasibility, concept planning, and due diligence through execution, commissioning, and handover.
• Establish project objectives, delivery strategies, milestones, governance requirements, and stakeholder responsibilities.
• Coordinate Development, Leasing, Asset Management, Design, Operations, Hospitality, Retail, Lifestyle and Entertainment, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Project Delivery teams.
• Ensure all business units contribute their requirements at the appropriate development stage.
• Evaluate new development and redevelopment opportunities through market research, commercial analysis, site assessments, and strategic reviews.
• Prepare business cases covering development scenarios, investment requirements, projected returns, delivery risks, and strategic fit.
• Review masterplans, land‑use proposals, access strategies, phasing plans, and customer journey considerations.
• Manage site due diligence covering planning, title, infrastructure, utilities, environmental, technical, legal, and regulatory matters.
• Develop recommendations that support investment decisions and executive approvals.
• Appoint and manage architects, engineers, project managers, cost consultants, specialist advisors, operators, and other delivery partners.
• Ensure consultant outputs meet the approved brief, design standards, operational needs, commercial targets, and customer experience objectives.
• Challenge proposed solutions and coordinate value‑enhancing alternatives where necessary.
• Manage relationships with government authorities, joint venture partners, operators, anchor tenants, investors, and senior leadership.
• Support authority submissions, planning approvals, technical reviews, and development‑related permits.
• Prepare governance papers, executive presentations, project updates, and approval documentation.
• Manage development budgets, forecasts, cost plans, cash flow requirements, and commercial assumptions.
• Coordinate procurement activities, tender evaluations, consultant appointments, and contract reviews.
• Review design and delivery decisions against the approved business case and investment targets.
• Lead value engineering initiatives without compromising safety, quality, functionality, or customer experience.
• Monitor project schedules, design progress, procurement status, construction readiness, and critical dependencies.
• Maintain project risk registers, mitigation actions, decision logs, and issue escalation processes.
• Produce project health reports covering cost, programme, scope, quality, risk, governance, and stakeholder alignment.
• Ensure compliance with stage‑gate requirements, delegated authorities, internal policies, and development governance frameworks.
• Coordinate leasing, retail, hospitality, entertainment, and operational requirements within the integrated development plan.
• Support tenant coordination, anchor negotiations, operator requirements, and commercial activation planning.
• Ensure operational readiness activities are included throughout design and delivery.
• Monitor handover preparation, testing, commissioning, documentation, training, and readiness for opening.
• Promote customer‑centric design decisions that improve accessibility, circulation, convenience, experience, and destination appeal.
• Identify emerging risks, development constraints, and commercial opportunities before they affect project outcomes.
• Support continuous improvement of development processes, reporting standards, and governance practices.

Skills

Real estate development

Mall development

Stakeholder management

Governance & approvals

Budgeting & forecasting

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, or related

Job description

Job Snapshot

• Title: Senior Manager - Mall Development
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Industry: Commercial Real Estate
• Function: Project Management
• Experience: Minimum 11 years
• Job Type: Full-time
• Salary: 45000-65000

Overview

Senior Manager - Mall Development in Dubai is a senior Commercial Real Estate opportunity overseeing major shopping mall, mixed‑use, retail, hospitality, and lifestyle development projects. Majid Al Futtaim is hiring an experienced development professional to lead projects from feasibility and planning through design, execution, operational readiness, and final handover. The position coordinates multiple internal business units, external consultants, authorities, operators, investors, joint venture partners, and delivery teams. It requires strong commercial judgement, development expertise, and the ability to guide complex projects valued between AED 500 million and more than AED 5 billion.

Role Context

The Senior Manager - Mall Development will manage the planning and delivery of new shopping malls, redevelopment programmes, and integrated mixed‑use destinations. The role ensures that development concepts support commercial returns, leasing objectives, customer experience, operational efficiency, and long‑term asset value. The manager will evaluate development opportunities, prepare business cases, coordinate masterplans, supervise consultants, control budgets, manage project risks, and guide proposals through governance and stage‑gate approvals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development workstreams from opportunity assessment, feasibility, concept planning, and due diligence through execution, commissioning, and handover.
• Establish project objectives, delivery strategies, milestones, governance requirements, and stakeholder responsibilities.
• Coordinate Development, Leasing, Asset Management, Design, Operations, Hospitality, Retail, Lifestyle and Entertainment, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Project Delivery teams.
• Ensure all business units contribute their requirements at the appropriate development stage.
• Evaluate new development and redevelopment opportunities through market research, commercial analysis, site assessments, and strategic reviews.
• Prepare business cases covering development scenarios, investment requirements, projected returns, delivery risks, and strategic fit.
• Review masterplans, land‑use proposals, access strategies, phasing plans, and customer journey considerations.
• Manage site due diligence covering planning, title, infrastructure, utilities, environmental, technical, legal, and regulatory matters.
• Develop recommendations that support investment decisions and executive approvals.
• Appoint and manage architects, engineers, project managers, cost consultants, specialist advisors, operators, and other delivery partners.
• Ensure consultant outputs meet the approved brief, design standards, operational needs, commercial targets, and customer experience objectives.
• Challenge proposed solutions and coordinate value‑enhancing alternatives where necessary.
• Manage relationships with government authorities, joint venture partners, operators, anchor tenants, investors, and senior leadership.
• Support authority submissions, planning approvals, technical reviews, and development‑related permits.
• Prepare governance papers, executive presentations, project updates, and approval documentation.
• Manage development budgets, forecasts, cost plans, cash flow requirements, and commercial assumptions.
• Coordinate procurement activities, tender evaluations, consultant appointments, and contract reviews.
• Review design and delivery decisions against the approved business case and investment targets.
• Lead value engineering initiatives without compromising safety, quality, functionality, or customer experience.
• Monitor project schedules, design progress, procurement status, construction readiness, and critical dependencies.
• Maintain project risk registers, mitigation actions, decision logs, and issue escalation processes.
• Produce project health reports covering cost, programme, scope, quality, risk, governance, and stakeholder alignment.
• Ensure compliance with stage‑gate requirements, delegated authorities, internal policies, and development governance frameworks.
• Coordinate leasing, retail, hospitality, entertainment, and operational requirements within the integrated development plan.
• Support tenant coordination, anchor negotiations, operator requirements, and commercial activation planning.
• Ensure operational readiness activities are included throughout design and delivery.
• Monitor handover preparation, testing, commissioning, documentation, training, and readiness for opening.
• Promote customer‑centric design decisions that improve accessibility, circulation, convenience, experience, and destination appeal.
• Identify emerging risks, development constraints, and commercial opportunities before they affect project outcomes.
• Support continuous improvement of development processes, reporting standards, and governance practices.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Law, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 11 years of experience in real estate development, mixed‑use projects, shopping malls, retail destinations, hospitality, investment, strategy, or large‑scale development.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex development projects from feasibility through delivery.
• Proven involvement in major developments with significant capital investment and multiple commercial components.
• Strong understanding of development strategy, market analysis, feasibility studies, business cases, and masterplanning.
• Experience coordinating design, leasing, finance, asset management, operations, commercial, and delivery teams.
• Ability to manage consultants, operators, developers, contractors, and specialist advisors.
• Sound knowledge of project governance, stage‑gate approvals, risk management, budgeting, forecasting, procurement, and contract administration.
• Experience engaging with government authorities and managing planning or regulatory approvals.
• Familiarity with UAE development regulations and authority requirements is strongly preferred.
• Strong commercial understanding of development returns, cost plans, asset value, leasing performance, and operational viability.
• Ability to review complex technical, commercial, financial, and legal information.
• Excellent presentation, negotiation, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Confidence influencing senior leaders, external partners, operators, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proactive and solutions‑focused approach to development challenges.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, changing priorities, competing interests, and several workstreams simultaneously.
• Strong attention to governance, documentation, quality, and customer experience.
• Ability to work effectively within a complex matrix organisation.

Skills Set

• Real estate development
• Shopping mall development
• Mixed‑use development
• Development management
• Project feasibility
• Business case development
• Masterplan assessment
• Site due diligence
• Development strategy
• Commercial analysis
• Project governance
• Stage‑gate management
• Stakeholder management
• Authority approvals
• Joint venture coordination
• Consultant management
• Operator coordination
• Anchor tenant engagement
• Design management
• Project planning
• Budget management
• Cost planning
• Financial forecasting
• Procurement coordination
• Contract review
• Value engineering
• Risk management
• Project health reporting
• Operational readiness
• Project handover
• Customer experience planning
• UAE development regulations

Why Join Us

This opportunity provides leadership responsibility across major shopping mall and mixed‑use developments with substantial commercial value. The successful candidate will contribute to projects that combine retail, hospitality, entertainment, lifestyle, and community components within prominent regional destinations. The role offers exposure to complex investment decisions, development strategy, senior governance, international consultants, operators, anchor tenants, and large‑scale delivery programmes. It is suited to an experienced real estate professional seeking broader strategic influence, high‑value project responsibility, and long‑term development within an established Commercial Real Estate organisation.

About the Company

Majid Al Futtaim develops and operates shopping malls, communities, retail businesses, entertainment destinations, and lifestyle assets across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its property development business creates integrated destinations that combine commercial performance, operational quality, customer experience, and sustainable long‑term value.