Our client is a real estate development company, focuses on freehold real estate development vertical and managing high rise building commercial and residential projects.
Currently we are hiring a Head of Finance Real Estate Developments (Freehold Projects) for our client in Dubai, who will lead and execute the financial strategy for the group's new freehold real estate development vertical in the UAE. This role is hands-on and execution-focused, responsible for end-to-end financial leadership across high-value residential and mixed-use developments, including project financing, banking relationships, guarantees, feasibility, and contractor financial oversight.
The organization operates with a lean structure and fast decision-making culture, requiring someone who can translate board decisions into action quickly, without bureaucratic delays.
Key Responsibilities:
Project Finance & Capital Structuring
- Lead financial planning and structuring for large-scale freehold developments (AED 1 billion+ project value).
- Manage bank financing, lender negotiations, and ongoing banking relationships.
- Oversee issuance and management of bonds, guarantees, advance payment guarantees, performance bonds, and other project-related securities.
- Work closely with banks, legal advisors, and consultants to ensure financing readiness at each project stage.
Development Feasibility & Financial Control
- Prepare and validate project feasibility studies, cash flow models, IRR analysis, and sensitivity scenarios.
- Monitor project budgets, cost-to-complete, funding utilization, and financial risk exposure.
- Ensure robust financial controls across development lifecyclefrom land acquisition to construction and handover.
Contractors & Consultants Financial Oversight
- Support the appointment of contractors and consultants from a financial and commercial standpoint.
- Review payment structures, advance guarantees, milestone-linked payments, and commercial terms.
- Assess financial feasibility and risk exposure before final contract execution.
Board-Level Reporting & Decision Support
- Act as a key financial advisor to the Board of Directors.
- Prepare concise, decision-oriented financial updates for weekly catch-ups and periodic board meetings.
- Provide rapid financial insights to support fast-paced strategic decisions.
Team & Structure
- Operate within a small, lean team, supported by 12 finance professionals.
- Build scalable finance processes suitable for a growing development platform.
- Coordinate closely with internal stakeholders, legal advisors, banks, and external consultants.
Business Context
- Group currently holds 7 existing assets (primarily leasehold properties) with a total asset value of approximately AED 3 billion.
- This role supports a new freehold development vertical, with initial projects valued at AED 1 billion+, primarily residential:
-High-end residential developments
-Branded apartments
-Limited commercial components (podium / ground floor retail)
Mandatory Experience:
- Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent professional qualification.
- Strong, hands-on experience with UAE real estate developers, particularly freehold residential projects.
- Proven experience managing:
-Bank financing
-Project-related guarantees and bonds
-Contractor financial structuring
-Development feasibility and cash flow modeling
- Direct exposure to large-scale development projects from early-stage feasibility through execution.
Preferred Background
- Experience with leading regional developers
- Comfortable working in entrepreneurial, family-office environments.
- Ability to operate with minimal hierarchy and high accountability.
Culture & Working Style
- Fast-paced, non-bureaucratic environment.
- Decisions are made quickly; execution is expected immediately.
- Informal structure with weekly working-level discussions rather than rigid monthly reporting cycles.
- High trust, high responsibility role with direct board exposure.
