General Manager The Ritz-Carlton Diriyah (Pre-Opening)

General Manager The RitzCarlton Diriyah

Diriyah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Opening 2026

About The RitzCarlton Diriyah

Set to open in 2026 The RitzCarlton Diriyah will bring the brands legendary service crafted luxury and timeless design to one of Saudi Arabias most significant cultural destinations. The hotel will feature 195 exquisitely designed guestrooms including 34 suites alongside a specialty restaurant an allday dining venue meeting rooms an outdoor pool a stateoftheart fitness center a signature Ritz Kids programme a worldclass spa and a range of immersive guest experiences.

Diriyahknown as the Jewel of the Kingdomis being transformed into Saudi Arabias foremost historic and cultural hub. Set across 14 square kilometers this iconic destination is inspired by Najdi architecture and will offer museums galleries luxury retail dining residences and public spaces celebrating the rich heritage of the Arabian Peninsula. The RitzCarlton Diriyah will play a defining role in this landmark development welcoming global travelers seeking authenticity heritage and refined luxury.

Position Summary

The General Manager will serve as the strategic and operational leader of The RitzCarlton Diriyah overseeing all aspects of preopening launch and ongoing hotel performance. This role requires a visionary luxury hospitality leader who consistently delivers exceptional guest experiences drives commercial excellence builds highperforming teams and upholds the gold standards of The RitzCarlton brand.

The successful candidate will be an ambassador of luxury brand culture and Diriyahs heritagecrafting a hotel experience that is both globally exceptional and deeply rooted in local authenticity.

Candidate Profile

Required Experience

• 10 years of senior leadership experience in luxury hotels including 510 years as a General Manager (nonnegotiable).
• Proven track record managing luxury brandspreferably within The RitzCarlton Marriott Luxury Brands or comparable ultraluxury operators.
• Middle East experience is required ideally with preopening exposure.
• Strong commercial and operational background with demonstrated success in driving revenue profitability and guest satisfaction in competitive luxury markets.

Competencies & Attributes

• Exceptional leadership presence and the ability to inspire diverse multicultural teams.
• Deep understanding of luxury service psychology guest behavior and experience design.
• Collaborative and strategic thinker with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Passion for cultural storytelling and local immersionexperience integrating heritage into luxury guest journeys is highly valued.
• High EQ strong communication skills and the ability to navigate complex environments with diplomacy and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & PreOpening

• Lead all preopening activities including project timelines departmental structure recruitment service concepts SOP development and financial planning.
• Collaborate closely with ownership Marriott International and Diriyah project stakeholders to ensure alignment with brand standards and development milestones.
• Oversee positioning strategies to ensure the hotel launches as a flagship luxury destination in the region.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure flawless execution of all daily operations across Rooms F&B Spa Engineering Guest Experience and Support Services.
• Maintain RitzCarltons legendary service standards through continuous training coaching and quality assurance.
• Drive innovation in guest programming service rituals and experiential luxury aligned with Diriyahs cultural narrative.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Deliver strong commercial performance with effective revenue management sales strategy and market positioning.
• Oversee budgeting forecasting cost controls and financial planning to achieve longterm profitability.
• Build strategic partnerships to enhance brand visibility and revenue opportunities.

Talent Leadership & Culture Building

• Attract inspire and retain exceptional luxury hospitality talent.
• Champion a culture consistent with The RitzCarltons Ladies and Gentlemen service philosophy.
• Lead with emotional intelligence cultural sensitivity and a commitment to colleague engagement and development.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement

• Represent the property to local government community partners cultural institutions and tourism authorities.
• Foster relationships within the Diriyah development ecosystem to support integrated guest experiences and destination growth.
• Serve as the face of The RitzCarlton Diriyah for media VIP guests and global partners.

Why Join The RitzCarlton Diriyah

• Lead one of the most anticipated luxury hotel openings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Shape a flagship RitzCarlton property positioned at the heart of a globally recognized cultural landmark.
• Work at the intersection of worldclass luxury historic heritage and visionary destination development.
• Opportunity to leave a legacy within one of the worlds most ambitious tourism and cultural transformation projects.