Job description

The Head of Development Partnerships at The First Group is a senior, externally facing role focused on identifying, sourcing, and structuring partnership-led hospitality development opportunities across Dubai and the wider UAE. The position supports the origination of hospitality-suitable land and development projects by engaging directly with landowners and property owners to unlock development potential through joint venture arrangements, land contribution models, and long-term value-aligned partnership structures. The role represents The First Group’s established development platform, international track record, brand reputation, and hospitality-focused delivery and sales capabilities in early-stage commercial discussions. Responsibilities include sourcing and assessing development opportunities that may benefit from repositioning, restructuring, or alternative development approaches, leading high-level commercial conversations around partnership frameworks and indicative commercial terms, and aligning stakeholder expectations. The role works closely with internal finance, legal, and senior management teams to assess feasibility, progress viable opportunities, and move projects toward formal internal approval, while continuously building and maintaining a pipeline of land and development opportunities. This position is not involved in construction management, contractor oversight, project delivery, or brokerage activities, and is purely focused on opportunity origination and early-stage commercial structuring within hospitality real estate development.