Director of Leasing (Retail/Malls)

About the Role We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Director of Leasing / Retail to lead the leasing strategy and commercial performance of the Group’s retail and mall operations. The role will be responsible for maximizing occupancy, rental income, tenant mix, and overall retail performance , while attracting and retaining leading local, regional, and international brands. The successful candidate will have strong knowledge of the Abu Dhabi retail and mall market , an established network of retailers and brands, and proven experience managing leasing activities within established and high-profile shopping malls. Key Responsibilities • Develop and implement the Group’s retail leasing strategy in line with business objectives. • Lead leasing activities across the Group’s shopping malls and retail properties. • Maximize occupancy, rental income, tenant retention, and commercial performance . • Identify, attract, and secure leading local, regional, and international retail brands. • Manage the complete leasing cycle, including prospecting, negotiations, renewals, amendments, and lease closures. • Lead negotiations on rental rates, lease terms, incentives, fit-out periods, deposits, and other commercial conditions. • Develop and maintain strong relationships with major tenants, retailers, F&B operators, entertainment brands, brokers, and business partners. • Develop and maintain an effective tenant mix and retail positioning strategy . • Monitor occupancy, lease expiries, renewals, vacancies, tenant performance, and rental income. • Conduct regular market research and benchmarking on rental rates, competitor malls, retail trends, and consumer demand. • Identify opportunities to improve footfall, tenant sales, customer experience, and mall revenue . • Identify and attract new retail concepts, F&B brands, entertainment operators, lifestyle brands, and service providers. • Work closely with Mall Operations, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Engineering, and other departments to ensure effective tenant onboarding and ongoing operations. • Review leasing proposals, tenant applications, commercial evaluations, and business cases. • Develop annual leasing budgets, revenue forecasts, occupancy targets, and performance plans. • Monitor leasing KPIs and provide regular performance reports and recommendations to Senior Management. • Lead, manage, and develop the leasing team, setting clear targets and performance expectations. • Manage relationships with external leasing agents, brokers, consultants, and commercial partners. • Support retail marketing, promotional campaigns, tenant engagement, and mall activation initiatives. • Evaluate opportunities to optimize vacant spaces, reposition existing units, and enhance the overall tenant mix. • Ensure compliance with Group policies, lease agreements, commercial procedures, and applicable regulations. • Provide Management with regular market intelligence, leasing strategies, and commercial recommendations . Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Retail Management, Marketing, Finance, or a related field . • Minimum 8–10 years of experience in retail leasing and mall management , with significant leadership experience. • Proven experience working with established and well-known shopping malls in Abu Dhabi is highly preferred. • Strong track record in leasing major retail, F&B, entertainment, lifestyle, and commercial tenants. • Established network of local, regional, and international retail brands and operators . • Strong knowledge of the Abu Dhabi retail and mall market , including rental benchmarks, tenant demand, consumer trends, and competitive positioning. • Experience managing leasing for large-scale or high-profile shopping malls is highly preferred. • Strong commercial, financial, negotiation, and contract management skills. • Excellent understanding of rental structures, lease agreements, tenant incentives, fit-out periods, and commercial terms. • Strong leadership, communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills. • Strong analytical and strategic planning capabilities. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint , and leasing/property management systems. Preferred Profile The ideal candidate will be a commercially driven retail leasing leader with strong Abu Dhabi mall experience and an established network within the retail industry. Candidates should have a proven track record of securing quality tenants, improving occupancy, increasing rental income, optimizing tenant mix, and strengthening the commercial performance of shopping malls. Experience with recognized and established shopping malls in Abu Dhabi and strong relationships with major retail, F&B, entertainment, and lifestyle brands will be a significant advantage.