Director – Branded Residences

About This Role

We are conducting a confidential search for a commercially astute and operationally hands-on Director - Residences Manager to lead the establishment of the residential operation under a well-recognised hospitality brand in the UAE which has launched a residence brand with 2000+ residences in the pipeline. The first branded residence is expected to open by end 2026.

This role is critical in building the residential operating framework from the ground up ensuring regulatory compliance, structured brand standards, operational excellence, quality commitments, and sustainable asset performance.

In this role, youll:

• Lead the operational setup and readiness of the brands residential asset
• Develop and formalise residential brand standards, service frameworks, and governance structures
• Ensure full compliance with UAE residential and short-term letting regulations, including tourism and municipality requirements
• Manage holiday home licensing, registration, and operational governance where applicable
• Establish reporting structures, performance metrics, and cost control mechanisms
• Oversee third-party operators, vendors, and service providers
• Manage owner and resident relations with professionalism and discretion
• Support long-term asset value enhancement and portfolio growth initiatives

Youll thrive in this role if you:

• Have prior experience managing residential communities, serviced residences, or branded residential assets within the UAE
• Possess strong working knowledge of UAE regulations governing residential operations and short-term letting
• Have been involved in launching or structuring residential operations from early stages
• Understand DTCM / tourism authority compliance frameworks
• Bring exposure from reputable developers or hospitality-linked residential portfolios
• Combine operational discipline with commercial awareness
• Present yourself confidently and manage stakeholders with maturity
• Are comfortable building structure where none yet exists
• Are motivated to grow within a new residential vertical