JLL has announced the appointment of Saud Mohammed Alsulaimani as its Country Head in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The firm said the move will see Alsulaimani expand and strengthen JLL’s presence in the country as a market leader in real estate with a focus on technology and sustainability.
The firm said the decision comes at a time when national efforts are being maximised toward boosting the Kingdom’s business environment and increasing the capacity of Saudi citizens in leadership positions in the private sector on the back of the Saudisation initiative.
“With Saudi Arabia focusing on economic diversification, there is an enormous opportunity for professional real estate companies to help the country in realising its vision, and we intend to be at the forefront of it,” said Thierry Delvaux, CEO of JLL Middle East, Africa and Turkey.
In April 2022, JLL said that 6,000 residential units were added to key Saudi cities in the first quarter of this year.
“With his extensive experience, we are confident that Saud, as JLL’s Country Head in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will not only add enormous value to our business and clients but also help us in supporting the Kingdom in its transformation journey.”
Prior to joining JLL, Alsulaimani was the Executive Director at the Tourism Development Fund, where he managed the Real Estate Development and Research department. He was also an independent Board Member of Al Rajhi REIT Publicly Traded Fund, delivering effective strategic counselling including the management of a diversified portfolio of real estate properties spread across multiple sectors and cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In the past, he also served as a Partner at Knight Frank, managing its real estate valuation and advisory practice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Additionally, Alsulaimani was part of the Real Estate and Infrastructure team at the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is behind key development projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia including Neom, The Red Sea Project, KAFD, Qiddiya and ROSHN.
In June, JLL said it had been awarded the contract to manage Magnom Properties’ regional real estate projects.
“It is an honor to join an industry leader like JLL and to support the Kingdom’s growth journey,” said Alsulaimani. “JLL’s growth in Saudi Arabia has been nothing short of remarkable, and I am excited to be a part of the journey ahead as we strengthen our position in the country, while ensuring continued success and value for our clients.”
Earlier this year, JLL announced the appointment of a non-executive board of leading business figures in Saudi Arabia to advise on the firm’s sustainable and growth-driven strategy in the Kingdom. The board formed by Jehad Alkadi, Chief Executive Officer of Arriyadh Development Company in the capacity of a board chairman; Hawazen Nazieh Nassief, Environmental, Social and Governance Advisor; Mohammed Al Khars, Chairman of Innovest Properties; and Musaab Al-Muhaidib, Chief Executive Officer of Al Muhaidib Entertainment Ventures.
JLL is said to have been one of the first real estate consultancies to establish itself in the Kingdom over a decade ago with offices in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. With over 300 employees in the Kingdom as of today, it says it has supported the Saudi vision and has successfully advised some of the Kingdom’s biggest real estate developments and giga projects including the King Abdullah Financial District, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Non-Profit City, and other landmark projects by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
In June, the firm named David Duke as Head of International Residential in the Kingdom.