Hospitality – Topland

Hospitality – Dubai

2017 - Present

Hospitality - Dubai

The First Group is a leading privately-owned real estate development company headquartered in the UAE, with a portfolio that includes 18 completed assets and 3 ongoing projects. The group has expanded its footprint beyond real estate into hospitality, F&B, and asset management. The group collectively manages over 8,000 rooms and over 70 F&B outlets in Dubai.

As part of the management team (both as CCO and consultant), we continue to play a pivotal role in group-wide restructuring to optimize processes, mitigate financial and operational risks, and manage key commercial and contractual relationships with external partners and government entities. The team was also instrumental in securing approval for the first 'fractional title' in the regional hotel industry and is pursuing other landmark product and funding initiatives, marking a milestone in the firm’s market strategy and financial innovation.

2003

Hospitality - Dubai

IMG Worlds of Adventure, located in Dubai's City of Arabia, is the world’s largest indoor theme park, covering 1.5 million square feet. Opened in August 2016, it was developed by the Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group (IMG Group) under licenses from Warner Bros. Discovery and The Walt Disney Company. The park features six immersive zones: Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure, IMG Boulevard, The Haunted Town, and IMG Kids Zone. With a capacity to host over 20,000 visitors daily, the park offers a dynamic mix of thrill rides, themed attractions, retail outlets, dining options, and a 12-screen cinema, all within a climate-controlled environment.

The management team (through its employment at Andersen) led the development of a large-scale themed entertainment destination, integrating immersive zones such as Marvel and Lost Valley to offer diverse and engaging visitor experiences. We ensured seamless incorporation of retail and F&B facilities to enhance visitor satisfaction and drive commercial viability. By implementing a climate-controlled environment, the team enhanced year-round visitor comfort, elevating the park’s appeal as a key leisure and tourism asset in Dubai. The destination was strategically positioned along the E311 highway for optimal access within the City of Arabia master plan.