Job Overview
Al-Futtaim Real Estate is looking for an experienced Director – Residential & Commercial Real Estate to lead the strategic and operational performance of its residential and commercial property portfolio in Dubai, UAE.
The role focuses on maximizing asset value, improving portfolio profitability, optimizing rental income and occupancy, strengthening tenant relationships, and delivering long-term investment performance. The successful candidate will oversee real estate asset management, leasing strategy, tenant mix, property operations, service charge governance and capital improvement programs across a diverse portfolio.
This senior leadership position requires extensive experience managing income-generating real estate assets, strong commercial and financial expertise, and a deep understanding of the UAE/GCC real estate market.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Asset Management
- Develop and implement long-term asset management strategies for residential and commercial properties.
- Align individual asset plans with investment objectives, financial targets and overall business strategy.
- Lead annual business planning, forecasting, performance benchmarking and asset repositioning initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to increase Net Operating Income (NOI) and strengthen asset value.
- Deliver approved annual and multi-year asset plans.
- Monitor property valuations and benchmark portfolio performance against internal and external market data.
- Identify opportunities to improve asset competitiveness, revenue and long-term investment returns.
Financial and P&L Management
- Take overall P&L responsibility for residential and commercial assets within the portfolio.
- Manage revenue, operating costs, service recovery and profitability across individual properties.
- Lead asset-level budgeting, forecasting and capital expenditure planning in partnership with Finance.
- Monitor budget performance and implement corrective actions where required.
- Drive achievement of revenue and profitability targets.
- Ensure accurate and timely monthly and quarterly financial reporting.
- Analyze financial performance and identify opportunities for cost optimization and income growth.
Residential and Commercial Leasing
- Develop and execute leasing strategies for residential, retail and office assets.
- Optimize occupancy, rental income, tenant retention and overall portfolio performance.
- Establish appropriate rental pricing based on market conditions and asset performance.
- Improve tenant mix and support long-term commercial leasing growth.
- Monitor residential leasing and sales performance and identify opportunities to improve unit absorption.
- Track occupancy, renewal rates, tenant churn and rental yields across the portfolio.
- Build strong relationships with major tenants, leasing partners and brokers.
Tenant and Community Management
- Act as a senior relationship point for key residential tenants and commercial lease partners.
- Develop effective tenant feedback and engagement processes.
- Improve tenant retention, satisfaction and overall customer experience.
- Resolve escalated tenant issues within agreed service levels.
- Support long-term renewals with strategic tenants.
- Monitor tenant satisfaction and relevant customer experience metrics.
Property and Facilities Management
- Oversee internal and outsourced facilities management operations across the portfolio.
- Ensure properties meet operational, maintenance, health and safety and service-level requirements.
- Monitor facilities management contracts, AMCs and service-level agreements.
- Track performance of critical building systems, including HVAC, elevators and other essential infrastructure.
- Improve preventive maintenance and service-response performance.
- Balance operational quality with cost-efficiency and tenant expectations.
Capital Projects and Asset Improvements
- Lead the planning and execution of major Capex, refurbishment and property improvement projects.
- Develop business cases for capital investments and present recommendations for approval.
- Monitor project budgets, timelines, quality and delivery performance.
- Measure the financial impact and ROI of capital investments.
- Identify lifecycle improvement opportunities to enhance building quality and asset competitiveness.
- Work closely with development, engineering, finance and facilities teams on major property initiatives.
Service Charge Management
- Oversee service charge budgeting, recovery and governance across applicable properties.
- Work with Finance and Facilities Management teams to ensure accurate and transparent service charge structures.
- Support compliance with applicable RERA and strata management requirements.
- Improve service charge recovery rates and financial reconciliation.
- Ensure audit requirements and reporting deadlines are met.
- Promote greater transparency around service costs to improve tenant confidence and satisfaction.
Market Research and Real Estate Benchmarking
- Monitor Dubai and wider UAE real estate market trends, rental movements and competitive developments.
- Analyze competitor performance and market positioning.
- Use market intelligence to support leasing, pricing and asset repositioning decisions.
- Maintain strong relationships with property consultants, brokers and research organizations.
- Monitor regulatory developments affecting residential and commercial real estate.
- Develop strategic responses to changing market conditions.
Leadership and Team Management
- Provide strategic leadership to the asset management team overseeing residential and commercial properties.
- Lead and develop property managers, leasing professionals, analysts and other real estate specialists.
- Establish clear performance objectives and promote a culture of accountability and collaboration.
- Work closely with Finance, Legal, Facilities Management, Development and other business functions.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives and ensure effective delivery of strategic property projects.
- Develop high-performing teams capable of delivering sustainable portfolio growth.
Required Skills and Experience
Candidates applying for this Real Estate Director job in Dubai should demonstrate:
- Strong commercial and financial expertise with experience managing P&L performance.
- Extensive knowledge of real estate asset management and property management.
- Strong leadership and stakeholder-management skills.
- Proven experience managing multiple residential and commercial assets.
- Strong understanding of leasing, facilities management and capital investment.
- Excellent negotiation, communication and relationship-management capabilities.
- Ability to analyze market trends, financial performance and asset-level opportunities.
- Experience working with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of UAE or GCC real estate markets.
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business Administration, Engineering or a related field.
- A Master’s degree such as an MBA or MSc in Real Estate or Asset Management is preferred.
- 20+ years of relevant experience in real estate asset management and property management.
- At least 5 years in a senior leadership position managing large or complex mixed-use property portfolios.
- Proven experience managing income-producing residential and commercial real estate assets.
- Strong UAE or GCC market experience is essential.
- Experience with lease structuring, service charge governance and property development/design input is preferred.
- Experience with freehold properties will be an advantage.
About Al-Futtaim Real Estate
Al-Futtaim Real Estate is part of the Al-Futtaim Group and has more than six decades of experience in real estate development, investment and asset management. The business develops, manages and invests in properties across the MENA region.
Its diversified portfolio spans multiple real estate sectors, including residential communities, commercial properties, retail destinations, hospitality, healthcare, education, infrastructure and industrial assets.
Among its flagship developments are Dubai Festival City in the UAE and Cairo Festival City in Egypt, which represent major mixed-use destinations within the region.
Al-Futtaim Real Estate also includes Al-Futtaim Contracting, an integrated specialist business providing construction, engineering, technology and facilities management solutions across markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt.
Why Apply for This Real Estate Director Job in Dubai?
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced real estate professional seeking to manage a significant residential and commercial asset portfolio in Dubai. The position offers the opportunity to influence asset strategy, leasing performance, tenant experience, capital investment and long-term property value.
Professionals with extensive UAE/GCC real estate experience, asset management expertise, P&L responsibility and residential/commercial portfolio leadership are well suited to this opportunity.
Job Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job Category: Real Estate / Asset Management / Property Management
Job Title: Director – Residential & Commercial Real Estate
Leadership Experience: 5+ Years in Senior Management
Company: Al-Futtaim Real Estate