Leasing Specialist – F&B and Retail

📢 WE ARE HIRING | Leasing Specialist – F&B and Retail Business Unit: Dubai Outlet Mall Department: Leasing Location: Dubai, UAE 1. Job Purpose To support the leasing strategy and commercial performance of Dubai Outlet Mall by identifying, attracting, negotiating with, and securing suitable retail and Food & Beverage (F&B) tenants. The role is responsible for developing a strong and balanced tenant mix, achieving leasing and occupancy targets, maximizing rental income, and managing leasing transactions from initial prospecting through lease execution, unit handover, and store opening. 2. Key Responsibilities Implement the approved leasing strategy for retail and F&B categories in coordination with the Director. Identify, approach, and secure local, regional, and international brands, retailers, F&B operators, franchisees, and retail groups. Develop and maintain a balanced tenant mix that supports the mall's outlet positioning, customer proposition, footfall, revenue, and overall shopping experience. Achieve agreed leasing targets relating to occupancy, signed Gross Leasable Area (GLA), rental income, deal closures, and tenant openings. Source prospective tenants across fashion, footwear, sports, accessories, beauty, lifestyle, home, value retail, cafés, restaurants, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), kiosks, and other relevant categories. Evaluate prospective tenants based on brand strength, customer appeal, financial standing, operational capability, unit suitability, and contribution to the tenant mix. Build and maintain a strong leasing pipeline through market mapping, networking, retailer meetings, franchise groups, referrals, brokers, and industry events. Prepare leasing proposals, unit options, commercial offers, rental comparisons, and deal feasibility assessments in line with approved business plans and rental guidelines. Negotiate rental rates, turnover rent where applicable, lease duration, rent-free periods, fit-out periods, security deposits, service charges, marketing contributions, and other commercial terms within delegated authority. Manage leasing transactions from prospect identification and qualification through negotiations, internal approvals, offer issuance, lease execution, unit handover, and store opening. Coordinate with Legal, Finance, Mall Operations, Marketing, Design, Fit-out, and Tenant Coordination teams to facilitate timely documentation, handover, and opening. Follow up on security deposits, advance rent, security cheques, outstanding documentation, and other leasing-related payments in coordination with Finance. Maintain accurate and up-to-date leasing records, including prospect details, negotiations, commercial offers, approvals, signed leases, vacant units, opening schedules, and lost deals in the leasing tracker or CRM. Conduct market research and benchmarking on competing malls, rental levels, tenant demand, outlet retail formats, emerging F&B concepts, and retailer expansion plans. Monitor market trends and recommend opportunities to improve the mall's competitiveness, tenant mix, occupancy, and rental performance. Build and maintain long-term relationships with tenants, retail groups, franchise operators, brokers, and other relevant stakeholders. Ensure compliance with applicable UAE laws, company policies, leasing procedures, approval matrices, and documentation standards. Submit weekly leasing pipeline updates and monthly management reports covering KPIs, occupancy, vacancy, contracted rental income, forecasts, deal status, risks, and upcoming openings. Resolve leasing-related queries professionally and coordinate with relevant internal teams to address issues affecting tenant commitments and opening timelines. 3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Performance will be assessed against agreed targets, including: Leasing achievement: Contracted rental income, signed GLA, number of deals closed, and achievement of leasing targets. Occupancy performance: Occupancy levels, vacancy reduction, and leasing of available units against approved targets. Pipeline effectiveness: Quality of prospective tenants, pipeline value, negotiation progress, and conversion rates. Tenant mix quality: Acquisition of relevant retail and F&B brands that strengthen the mall's positioning and customer proposition. Deal execution: Timely completion of commercial negotiations, internal approvals, offer letters, and lease agreements. Store openings: Achievement of agreed handover and opening milestones. Financial follow-up: Timely coordination and follow-up of deposits, advance rent, and other leasing-related payments. Reporting accuracy: Timely and accurate leasing reports, forecasts, and CRM records. Compliance: Adherence to approved rental guidelines, delegated authority, company procedures, and documentation requirements. 4. Qualifications and Experience Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related discipline. Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in shopping mall leasing, with demonstrable experience in both retail and F&B leasing. Proven track record of closing leasing transactions and achieving occupancy, GLA, and rental-income targets. Strong knowledge of retail brands, franchise operators, F&B concepts, and retail group structures. Experience in the UAE or GCC retail real estate market is preferred. An established network of retailers, F&B operators, franchise groups, and retail brands is an advantage. 5. Knowledge and Technical Skills Strong understanding of shopping mall leasing, tenant mix planning, retail positioning, outlet retail concepts, and commercial leasing practices. Knowledge of rental benchmarking, GLA, unit sizing, rental structures, turnover rent, incentives, and lease economics. Ability to review mall floor plans, assess unit suitability, evaluate commercial proposals, and identify leasing opportunities. Strong market research, competitor analysis, business development, and negotiation skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Experience with leasing CRM systems or property management systems is an advantage. Strong commercial drafting, presentation, reporting, forecasting, and pipeline-management capabilities. 6. Competencies Commercially focused, results-driven, professional, and ethical. Excellent negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship-management skills. Strong business development and networking capabilities. Analytical, organised, detail-oriented, and effective in follow-through. Able to manage multiple leasing transactions, deadlines, and competing priorities independently. Collaborative and capable of working effectively with cross-functional teams. Customer-focused, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced mall environment. 7. Internal Relationships Work closely with the Mall Director, Leasing, Mall Operations, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Design, Fit-out, and Tenant Coordination teams to progress leasing transactions, complete documentation, facilitate unit handovers, and support timely store openings. 8. External Relationships Develop and maintain professional relationships with retail brands, F&B operators, franchise groups, retail groups, brokers, prospective tenants, and other relevant market stakeholders. 9. Financial Authority The position may negotiate and recommend commercial leasing terms only within approved leasing guidelines and delegated authority. Any exceptions, additional incentives, non-standard lease terms, or deviations from approved rental parameters must be submitted for approval in accordance with the company's approval matrix. 10. General Responsibilities Undertake other leasing-related duties and commercial assignments as reasonably required by management to support the business objectives and commercial performance of Dubai Outlet Mall. Salary Range: AED 18,000/- to AED 20,000/- Show more Show less