Business Development Manager

Company: Locations – Short-Term Rentals | AQUA Group Location: Dubai, UAE Department: Business Development Industry: Holiday Homes / Short-Term Rentals / Hospitality

About Locations

Locations is the short-term rental and holiday homes business under AQUA Group, specialising in property management and short-term rental solutions across Dubai. Our focus is on expanding our portfolio of quality properties, maximising rental returns for property owners and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

We are looking for a dynamic, target-driven and commercially focused Business Development Manager to drive portfolio expansion, acquire new property owners and strengthen our presence in Dubai's holiday homes market.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Development & Property Acquisition

• Identify and acquire residential properties suitable for short-term rentals and holiday home operations.
• Proactively approach property owners, landlords, investors and real estate agents to generate new business opportunities.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective property owners through networking, referrals, cold calling and market research.
• Conduct property assessments to evaluate rental potential, expected returns and commercial viability.
• Present Locations' holiday home management services, revenue potential and value proposition to prospective clients.
• Negotiate commercial terms and secure property management agreements.
• Achieve monthly and quarterly targets for new property acquisitions and signed management contracts.

1. Client Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with property owners, investors, developers and real estate professionals.
• Act as the primary point of contact during the property acquisition and onboarding process.
• Provide property owners with realistic revenue projections, market insights and investment recommendations.
• Ensure a seamless handover of newly acquired properties to the operations team.
• Maintain ongoing relationships to encourage renewals, referrals and portfolio expansion.

1. Market Research & Business Strategy

• Monitor Dubai's short-term rental market, including occupancy trends, rental yields, seasonality and competitor activity.
• Identify high-potential communities and buildings suitable for holiday home operations.
• Develop targeted acquisition strategies for key residential communities across Dubai.
• Identify opportunities to establish strategic partnerships with developers, brokers, property management companies and investors.
• Recommend initiatives to increase market penetration and accelerate portfolio growth.

1. Internal Coordination & Reporting

• Coordinate with Operations, Revenue Management, Finance and Marketing to ensure successful property onboarding.
• Work closely with AQUA Properties' Sales, Leasing and Property Management teams to generate internal referrals and acquisition opportunities.
• Maintain accurate records of leads, client meetings, negotiations and signed contracts.
• Prepare weekly and monthly business development reports covering pipeline activity, conversion rates and property acquisitions.
• Ensure all commercial agreements comply with company policies and applicable Dubai holiday home regulations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Number of new property management agreements signed monthly.
• Number of qualified property owner leads generated.
• Lead-to-contract conversion rate.
• Number of properties successfully onboarded and activated.
• Projected revenue and commercial value of acquired properties.
• Growth of the managed property portfolio.
• Development of strategic partnerships and referral channels.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, Real Estate or a related field.
• 2–5 years of business development or sales experience , preferably within Dubai's holiday homes, short-term rentals, real estate or property management sector.
• Proven experience in acquiring properties, signing management agreements or developing landlord relationships.
• Strong understanding of Dubai's real estate market and key residential communities.
• Familiarity with holiday home platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com is advantageous.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to evaluate property revenue potential.
• Self-motivated, proactive and comfortable working in a target-driven environment.
• UAE driving licence and access to a vehicle preferred.
• Existing network of landlords, property investors and real estate brokers would be a significant advantage.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to be part of AQUA Group's growing short-term rental business.
• Competitive salary and performance-linked incentives.
• Access to an established real estate network and potential internal referral opportunities.
• Career development and growth opportunities within the Group.
• A dynamic, entrepreneurial and results-driven working environment.

Role Objective

The primary objective of this position is to expand Locations' portfolio of managed holiday homes by consistently acquiring quality properties, securing profitable management agreements and building long-term relationships with property owners and investors.

The successful candidate will play a key role in accelerating the business's growth and strengthening its position within Dubai's short-term rental market.

Work Location: In person