FAIZ AHMED

www.linkedin.com/in/faizahmedshaikh

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Senior Project Manager and Real Estate Development Leader with 20+ years of experience delivering large-scale retail, mixed-use, and lifestyle developments across the UAE, GCC, and Canada. Proven track record managing end-to-end project lifecycles including land acquisition, feasibility, design, permitting, construction, and handover. Expert in CAPEX optimization, value engineering, stakeholder governance, and cross-functional team leadership (50–600+). Known for delivering complex, multi-billion-dollar portfolios on time, within budget, and aligned with institutional standards and long-term growth strategies.

Strategic Leadership & Transformation Impact:

Built and led high-performing teams of 600+ professionals, fostering collaboration across multicultural environments and improving cross-functional productivity by 25%.
Directed multibillion-dollar portfolios across retail and mixed-use developments, achieving up to 15% CAPEX efficiencies through governance, value engineering, and vendor partnerships.
Implemented agile project governance and executive dashboards, improving decision-making accuracy by 40% and strengthening senior leadership visibility.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Multi?Project & Portfolio Oversight
Value Engineering & Risk Mitigation
Schedule, Cost & Quality Management
Construction, Fit?Out & MEP Management
Project Governance & Executive Reporting
Contract Negotiation & Vendor Management
Stakeholder, Tenant & Investor Coordination
Industrial, Retail & Mixed?Use Developments
Cross?Functional Team Leadership (50–600+)
Process Improvement & Delivery Optimization
Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Compliance
Capital Planning, CAPEX Control & Cost Optimization
End?to?End Real Estate Development (Land Acquisition to Handover)
Government Liaison, Permitting & Regulatory Compliance (Canada & GCC)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Vindico – Senior Manager [RDD and Projects] September 2024 – February 2026 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Spearheaded the end-to-end planning, design, and execution of large-scale retail developments including The Galleria Mall, Silicon Central, Sharjah Central, YAS, Modon Suyoh Mall, and Rahmania Mall. Led cross-functional teams across design, fit-out, MEP, and delivery, ensuring alignment with brand, commercial, and schedule requirements while managing stakeholder and tenant coordination for 200+ retail units.

Delivered six flagship retail developments valued at $1.2B+, achieving 95% on-time completion.
Reduced tenant fit-out delays by 30% through streamlined approvals and digital workflows.
Achieved 12% CAPEX savings through value engineering and contract renegotiation.
Increased occupancy to 97% across retail assets by strengthening partnerships with global brands.
Improved team productivity by 25% and executive reporting accuracy by 40% through agile tools and BI dashboards.

Confluence – Project Manager [Part Time] September 2023 – August 2024 Edmonton, Canada

Managed residential and retail renovation projects in Alberta, aligning client requirements with site conditions, budgets, and permitting constraints to ensure compliant and timely delivery.

Delivered 4 legal suite basements and renovated 3 retail outlets, including full F&B fit-outs.
Coordinated contractors, designers, and suppliers, achieving 100% on-time delivery within approved budgets.
Streamlined project reporting and tracking, reducing delays by 15%.

Hudson Bay – Project Manager [Contract] October 2022 – August 2023 Edmonton, Canada

Led end-to-end retail store projects—including fit-outs, refurbishments, and decommissioning of flagship stores—across Edmonton. Delivered multi-site projects on time and within budget, coordinating contractors, vendors, and stakeholders while ensuring brand standards, safety, and operational readiness. Recognized for minimizing disruption, optimizing store performance, and driving strategic execution. Combines technical know-how with cross-functional leadership to deliver high-impact results across complex retail environments.

Managed multi-site retail fit-outs, refurbishments, and store decommissioning across Edmonton, ensuring compliance with brand, safety, and operational standards.
Coordinated contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders across concurrent live retail sites, maintaining schedule and cost control.
Implemented site-level planning and issue-resolution processes, supporting on-time handover of all assigned locations.

Landtran Logistics – Sr Team Lead | Dispatcher July 2021 – June 2022 Edmonton, Canada

Career transition role following relocation to Canada.

Led daily dispatch operations for a high-volume logistics network, managing drivers, fleet availability, routing, and delivery schedules.
Improved delivery reliability through optimized route planning, shift allocation, and real-time issue resolution.
Supervised and coached drivers and dispatch staff, reinforcing safety compliance and service standards.

Meraas Holding – Senior Manager Janaury 2015 – March 2019 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Jan 2015 – Mar 2019 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Represented the developer and property owner for City Walk Dubai, a 45,000 sq. m. mixed-use lifestyle destination, delivering 120 retail, cinema, F&B, and anchor tenant units. Directed construction, fit-out, and MEP works while managing budgets, schedules, quality standards, and stakeholder relationships.

Delivered City Walk Phases 1 & 2 and Residential Boulevard projects valued at $600M on schedule and within budget.
Reduced fit-out turnaround time by 25% through proactive tenant coordination and streamlined approvals.
Achieved 98% compliance with Dubai Municipality and EHS standards with zero major safety incidents.
Resolved 80+ technical and commercial disputes, ensuring smooth delivery and strong stakeholder alignment.

KEY ACHIEVMENTS AND PROJECTS

Delivered 150+ retail, F&B, and entertainment units across three flagship malls, achieving 100% on-time openings aligned with Majid Al Futtaim’s strategic launch schedules.
Managed $300M+ project portfolio, achieving 8% cost savings through effective contractor negotiations and value engineering.
Reduced fit-out approval cycle by 20% by introducing structured review processes and improving tenant–landlord communication workflows.
Ensured 95%+ compliance with HSE and Dubai Civil Defense standards, maintaining a zero-incident safety record throughout construction and delivery. ? Recognized for strengthening Majid Al Futtaim’s retail presence in Oman and UAE, directly supporting brand expansion and market dominance.
The Galleria Mall [Abu Dhabi], Citywalk Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, RAK Mall, Silicon Central Mall, Sharjah Central Mall, Meydan Racecourse, Modon Properties, Rahmania Mall, Suyoh Mall, Muscat City Centre, Qurum City Centre, Muscat, World Trade Centre, Abu Dhabi.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION

Master of Business Administration [MBA] 2011 University of Atlanta, US

Diploma, Interior Design & Decoration 1990 Kareer College, Mumbai, India

Project Management Professional [PMP Certificate] 2022 Project Management Institute [Valid till 2028]

OSHA 30 Hour Training Program [Construction] 2020 360º Training.Com

Construction Safety Training System [CSTS Fundamentals] 2022 Alberta Construction Safety Association

WHMIS 2015 Workers Education [Generic] 2022 Alberta Construction Safety Association

First Aid & CPR/AED Level C 2022 Canadian Red Cross

Jira 2022 Atlassian

Common Safety Orientation (CSO) 2026 Energy Safety Canada

H2S Alive 2026 Energy Safety Canada

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