About us:  Dokainish & Company is a global organization that has been providing world class professional consultancy services since 2011.
 We have recently launched our MENA operations, headquartered in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
This expansion supports our strategy to serve government and private sector clients in capital projects across construction, infrastructure, energy, and commercial developments.
  Overview:  Dokainish & Company is seeking an  experienced Development Director  to lead the hospitality and branded residence delivery for a mixed-use high-end project in downtown Dubai.
   From owning the business plan, asset brief, and end-to-end delivery, from concept refinement through handover.
 We need someone experienced able to navigate complex brand partnerships while driving technical excellence and financial performance.
    This is a full-time position, and the selected candidate must be based in Dubai, or in the UAE, willing to independently relocate to Dubai.
   Key Responsibilities:  Develop and deliver comprehensive business plan and asset brief for hospitality and branded residence offerings   Establish financial KPIs including cost estimates, ROI models, and brand fee impact analysis   Manage branded operator relationships, negotiate standards, resolve conflicts, ensure design/technical compliance   Lead technical coordination across hotel operations, guest experience, and residential integration   Define brand partnership frameworks balancing operator requirements with developer objectives   Drive design excellence meeting both brand standards and project positioning requirements   Manage consultant teams and contractor interfaces for hospitality-specific requirements (back-of-house, F&B, spa, operational spaces)   Coordinate operational readiness planning including FF&E, OSE, technology systems, and pre-opening activities   Ensure delivery timelines align with brand launch requirements and market entry strategy   Navigate authority approvals specific to hospitality and tourism licensing  Background & Requirements:  12+ years in hospitality development with 5+ years in leadership roles   Proven delivery of 5-star hotels and/or luxury branded residence projects   Strong technical knowledge of hospitality design, MEP systems, and operational requirements   Demonstrated ability to develop business cases, financial models, and brand partnership economics   Experience managing international hotel operators (Marriott, Accor, IHG, independent luxury brands)   Deep understanding of hospitality market dynamics, brand positioning, and operational feasibility   Track record balancing brand standards with cost discipline and schedule commitments   Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Hospitality Management, or related field; MBA preferred   US, Canada, UK, or Australian education preferred   Dubai/GCC market experience essential    What Success looks like:   Business plan and asset brief delivered with clear brand partnership framework and financial parameters   Project delivered on budget with brand standards met and operational readiness achieved   Branded offerings command premium pricing with strong market differentiation   Seamless brand operator transition with zero operational disruptions   Hotel/residences achieve target RevPAR and absorption metrics      Note: This role description is intended to provide a general overview of the position.
It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or qualifications required.