Retail Manager

About Us

Born from the vision to elevate Dubai's global prominence, Wasl was founded on May 25, 2008, with the mission to transform the city into an even more captivating destination for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Created from the union of the Dubai Development Board and Real Estate Department, Wasl embarked on a journey of seamless integration. This strategic merger not only streamlined operations but also empowered our team with enhanced expertise, enabling us to adopt dynamic, market-driven investment strategies.

Today, Wasl stands tall as a cornerstone of Dubai's real estate landscape. As one of the city's largest and most diversified real estate management companies, we proudly oversee an expansive portfolio of landmark assets, entrusted to us by DREC and other esteemed partners.

1. JOB DETAILS

Position Title: Retail Manager
Reports to: Director – Business Development
Department: Property Management – Leasing

2. POSITION SUMMARY

The Retail Manager is responsible for managing retail leasing activities across Wasl’s assigned property portfolio to maximize occupancy, rental income, tenant retention, and commercial performance. The role identifies and secures suitable tenants, develops tenant mix recommendations, negotiates new leases and renewals, and maintains productive tenant relationships. The position works closely with Property Management, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Community Management, and Operations to support an attractive retail offering, timely tenant onboarding, and leasing outcomes aligned with approved portfolio objectives.

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and implement leasing plans for assigned retail properties in line with approved occupancy, rental income, tenant mix, and business development objectives.
• Identify and approach prospective tenants, retail brands, franchise operators, and service providers suited to each property’s positioning, catchment, customer needs, and available spaces.
• Assess prospective tenants’ business concepts, operating experience, commercial suitability, and financial information in coordination with relevant teams.
• Recommend a balanced tenant mix that supports customer convenience, complementary retail offerings, and sustainable property performance.
• Conduct market research and competitor benchmarking on rental rates, retail demand, vacancy levels, leasing incentives, and emerging retail concepts.
• Maintain an active leasing pipeline, arrange property viewings, follow up on enquiries, and convert qualified prospects into leasing proposals and agreements.
• Negotiate rental rates, lease durations, escalation provisions, incentives, and other commercial terms within approved parameters and delegated authority.
• Prepare leasing proposals and approval submissions, clearly presenting commercial terms, financial implications, risks, and any requested exceptions.
• Coordinate with Legal and lease administration teams to ensure approved terms are accurately reflected in lease agreements and supporting documentation.
• Manage lease expiry and renewal schedules, engage tenants in advance, and negotiate renewals that support retention and rental income objectives.
• Maintain tenant relationships, address leasing-related enquiries and concerns, and coordinate the resolution of service or operational issues with responsible departments.
• Coordinate tenant onboarding, handover, fit-out requirements, approvals, and NOCs with Property Management, Operations, and relevant teams to support timely trading commencement.
• Work with Marketing to promote available retail spaces through suitable campaigns, listings, leasing materials, broker engagement, and industry networking.
• Monitor occupancy, rental income, leasing pipeline conversion, renewals, vacancies, and tenant mix; recommend corrective actions where performance falls below approved plans.
• Prepare leasing reports, rental forecasts, market updates, and recommendations to support management decisions and annual business planning.
• Contribute to leasing budgets and financial projections with Finance and Property Management, including expected lease commencements, renewals, incentives, and vacancy assumptions.
• Coordinate with Finance and relevant teams on tenant payment concerns, outstanding amounts, and their implications for leasing or renewal decisions.
• Maintain accurate leasing records and system data, follow approved policies and documentation requirements, and escalate contractual disputes or non-standard arrangements to Legal and management.
• Perform other retail leasing and business development responsibilities as assigned by the Director – Business Development.

4. KEY TECHNICAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCY LEVELS

Competency

Description

Proficiency Level

Retail Leasing

Manage tenant acquisition, leasing proposals, new leases, and renewals across assigned retail properties

Advanced

Tenant Acquisition and Assessment

Identify suitable retailers and assess their concepts, operating credentials, and commercial suitability

Advanced

Lease Negotiation

Negotiate commercial terms that balance rental income, occupancy, tenant retention, and leasing risk

Advanced

Tenant Mix Planning

Recommend complementary retail and service offerings aligned with property positioning and catchment needs

Advanced

Market Research and Rental Benchmarking

Analyze competing properties, rental rates, retail demand, incentives, and market opportunities

Advanced

Leasing Performance Analysis

Interpret occupancy, rental income, vacancy, renewal, and leasing pipeline data to guide action

Advanced

Tenant Relationship Management

Manage leasing relationships, address concerns, and support tenant retention through coordinated follow-up

Advanced

Leasing Financial Analysis

Assess rental proposals, incentives, income forecasts, and the financial implications of leasing decisions

Advanced

Lease Documentation and Compliance

Apply approved leasing procedures, recognize contractual issues, and coordinate documentation with Legal

Intermediate

Tenant Onboarding and Fit-Out Coordination

Coordinate handover, approvals, NOCs, and fit-out dependencies with responsible teams

Intermediate

Leasing Marketing and Broker Engagement

Support property promotion, leasing campaigns, and broker networks to generate qualified enquiries

Intermediate

Leasing Systems and Reporting

Maintain accurate leasing records and prepare reports using property systems, Excel, and reporting tools

Intermediate

5. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:
Director – Business Development, Leasing and Lease Administration Teams, Property Management, Finance, Legal, Marketing, Wasl Community Management, Operations, AMSS, NOC and Fit-Out Approval Teams

External:
Existing and Prospective Retail Tenants, Retail Brands and Franchise Operators, Property Owners where applicable, Brokers, Service Providers, Contractors, Consultants, and Relevant Government and Regulatory Entities

6. CONTEXT, WORK ENVIRONMENT AND DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY

The role operates across assigned retail properties, balancing occupancy, rental income, tenant suitability, and retention in a competitive leasing environment. The work involves property visits, tenant meetings, commercial negotiations, market engagement, and coordination with teams responsible for property operations and tenant services.

The role manages day-to-day leasing activities and negotiates commercial terms within approved policies, leasing parameters, and delegated authority. Rental concessions, non-standard lease terms, material financial commitments, and contractual exceptions are submitted to the Director – Business Development and relevant approving authorities. Legal disputes and technical approvals are referred to the responsible functions.

7. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The role contributes to achieving approved rental income and occupancy targets for assigned retail properties. It supports leasing budgets and forecasts, evaluates the financial implications of proposed rents and incentives, and monitors leasing performance against approved plans.

The role supports value creation through timely leasing, commercially sound negotiations, tenant retention, and reduced vacancy periods. Financial commitments, concessions, and leasing expenditure are subject to approved budgets and delegated authority.

8. SELECTION CRITERIA

Qualifications and Experience — Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate Management, Marketing, Finance, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in commercial real estate leasing, including a minimum of 3 years in retail properties.
• Demonstrated experience in tenant acquisition, retail lease negotiations, renewals, and tenant relationship management.
• Strong understanding of tenant mix, rental benchmarking, occupancy management, leasing incentives, and retail property performance drivers.
• Strong negotiation, communication, relationship management, and organizational skills. Ability to coordinate leasing activities and resolve dependencies across multiple departments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and property management or leasing systems.

Desirable:

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Marketing, or a related field.
• Professional certification in real estate, property management, or commercial leasing.
• Experience in the UAE or GCC retail leasing market.
• Experience with community retail, shopping centres, mixed-use developments, or master developer portfolios.
• Established relationships with retail brands, franchise operators, and commercial property brokers.
• Familiarity with UAE real estate market practices, relevant DLD and RERA requirements, and tenancy registration processes.
• Experience using CRM platforms, leasing dashboards, and market intelligence tools.

Note:

This job description provides a broad indication of the role and responsibilities of the position. The position holder may be required to perform additional tasks and responsibilities not listed here, in line with organizational needs and evolving business priorities.

Our Values

At Wasl, we are more than just a real estate company. We are active contributors to Dubai's thriving economy, fostering enduring relationships with our valued stakeholders. Our customer-centric approach is rooted in trust, respect, and a relentless pursuit of innovation in every aspect of asset management.