AKAbout Ahmad
I help sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and institutional investors turn land into landmark mixed-use assets that outperform the market. Over 25 years I’ve directed $30 B+ in developments across MENA, Central Asia & East Africa—from PPP-secured mega sites to wellness resorts, retail malls, data hubs, and education campuses.
What I bring to the table
PPP structuring & land acquisition – 25 km² secured via multi-jurisdiction deals.
IRR-driven feasibility & modeling – portfolios consistently deliver 23 %+ ROI.
Market-entry & risk navigation – proven playbooks for volatile or first-mover markets (Iraq, Oman, Jordan).
Asset optimisation & exit – $90 M recovered and $6 M annual savings through appraisal-led disposals.
Typical projects & deliverables
End-to-end feasibility studies and bankable financial models.
Concept & master-plan definition for mixed-use, hospitality and data-infrastructure.
Public-private partnership negotiation and stakeholder alignment.
Board-level strategy sprints to unlock stalled projects or optimise returns.
If you need a partner who can blend boardroom strategy with on-the-ground execution—and quantify success before a shovel hits the soil—let’s discuss. Arabic, English, and French spoken; available on-site across GCC or remotely worldwide.
Arabic
Native or bilingual
English
Fluent
French
Conversational
Can work on-site
Dubai City (up to 50km), Abu Dhabi (up to 50km)
Experience
- Ahmad Khalaf AdvisoryStrategic Real Estate Development AdvisorSeptember 2015 - Today (10 years and 9 months)Advised HNWIs and family offices on $3B+ regional investment and development strategies. Identified untapped opportunities and crafted market-leading strategies for family offices and high-net-worth investors, driving competitive advantage and outperforming market benchmarks. Delivered transformative regional projects with a focus on balancing profitability and long-term societal impact, achieving a 23%+ IRR across portfolios. Streamlined development timelines by 15%, ensuring faster project delivery without compromising quality or attention to detail. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align investor goals with actionable development plans, resulting in market-defining outcomes.
- National HoldingCountry Manager & Regional AdvisorJuly 2009 - May 2014 (4 years and 10 months)Abu Dhabi - United Arab EmiratesLed mandates for large-scale developments, including Iraq's Shores of Karbala (20 km²) and Future City Baghdad (2.5 km²). Expanded operations into Mauritius, Oman, and Croatia, positioning the company for global growth. Delivered actionable insights during the 2008 financial crisis, prioritizing high-yield projects to ensure profitability. Established joint venture structures and secured funding for key regional developments.
- Bloom HoldingHead of Global Business DevelopmentMay 2008 - May 2014 (6 years)Abu Dhabi - United Arab EmiratesDirected $30+ billion in mixed-use developments across residential, retail, and hospitality sectors. Negotiated partnerships that reduced project bottlenecks and accelerated timelines by 20%. Introduced innovative differentiation strategies that redefined market expectations and increased premium demand.
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Education
- Master of Business Administration - MBABayes Business School2014Master of Business Administration - MBA
- MSC in real EstateUniversity College of Estate Management2024MSC in real Estate