Head of Development Partnerships

Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, The First Group is a dynamic, integrated global property developer with a fast-growing portfolio of upscale hotels, residential properties, F&B brands and real estate asset management services. Since our launch in 2005, we have carved a highly successful niche offering unrivalled property investment opportunities in high-growth markets to clients from more than 70 countries worldwide.

We were among the first developers to identify the tremendous potential in providing private investors the opportunity to purchase hotel guestrooms, suites and serviced apartments in our collection of upscale properties located in highly popular locations across Dubai. We back up our success with a list of International Property awards along with strategic partnerships with companies such as Wyndham Hotel group, Millennium Hotels, Emirates Airlines and Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts.

To successful candidates, we offer a diverse progressive corporate working environment with clear growth potential along with award winning sales & marketing tools, a state of the art showroom featuring Dubai’s only virtual helicopter tour and endorsements from a number of international sporting celebrities.

The First Group is seeking a commercially driven real estate professional to support the identification and structuring of landowner partnerships and development opportunities across Dubai and the wider UAE.

The role focuses on sourcing hospitality-suitable land and projects through partnership-led structures, working with landowners and property owners to unlock development potential in collaboration with The First Group’s established delivery and sales platform.

This is an externally facing role, centred on opportunity origination and early-stage commercial discussions.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and engage landowners with hospitality-suitable plots who may be open to:
• joint venture arrangements
• land contribution or partnership structures
• long-term value-aligned development models
• Source and assess development opportunities that may benefit from:
• repositioning,
• restructuring, or
• alternative development approaches
• Represent The First Group’s track record, brand, and development history in discussions with landowners and property owners
• Lead initial commercial conversations, including:
• partnership frameworks
• high-level commercial terms
• alignment of expectations
• Work closely with internal stakeholders (finance, legal, senior management) to:
• assess feasibility
• progress viable opportunities
• move projects toward formal approval
• Build and maintain a pipeline of potential land and development opportunities

What This Role Is Not

• Not a construction or project management role
• Not responsible for contractor management or project delivery
• Not a brokerage or land listing role

Profile Requirements

• 5–10+ years’ experience in:
  • real estate development
  • land acquisition or partnerships
  • property investment or advisory
• Strong understanding of:
  • land valuation
  • development economics
  • partnership-based deal structures
• Existing relationships with landowners, property owners, or real estate intermediaries are advantageous
• Comfortable operating independently and representing a well-established development platform externally
• Commercially pragmatic, with the ability to identify realistic and executable opportunities

Why Join The First Group

• Opportunity to work with an established hospitality developer with a strong international sales platform
• Exposure to partnership-led development models across prime and emerging locations
• Ability to originate and shape new projects from an early stage