Director of Business Development – Religious Tourism

About the role

We are looking for a dynamic commercial leader to drive the growth of our religious tourism business in Madinah. As Director of Business Development you will own the commercial agenda, lead the sales team and shape the strategy for Umrah and Hajj travel.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute a commercial growth strategy for the Umrah/Hajj ecosystem, accounting for seasonality and peak periods.
• Leverage an established network with Saudi, Gulf, South Asian and international Umrah wholesalers, DMCs and travel agents.
• Secure and manage contracts with Saudi ministries, quasi‑government entities and religious authorities.
• Oversee high‑volume group and series business, ensuring profitable ADR and RevPAR outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with revenue management to balance group versus FIT business mix.
• Set clear sales targets, hold the team accountable and rigorously evaluate performance.
• Allocate resources strategically across source markets and adapt plans to demand volatility.
• Ensure compliance with the Nusuk digital platform and Ministry of Hajj & Umrah regulations.
• Manage financial and credit risk with agents, protecting cash flow.
• Build a secondary pipeline of local corporate and social‑event business to diversify revenue.

Required profile

• Deep understanding of the religious tourism (Umrah/Hajj) ecosystem and booking cycles.
• Extensive network with top Umrah operators, DMCs and travel agents.
• Proven experience negotiating with government ministries and religious authorities.
• Track record of managing high‑volume group contracts profitably.
• Strong commercial acumen with ability to influence RevPAR and profitability.
• Leadership experience setting goals, coaching teams and driving performance.
• Ability to plan around seasonal peaks and troughs.
• Financial and credit‑risk awareness when dealing with mid‑sized operators.

Required skills

• Working knowledge of the Nusuk platform
• Proficiency with CRM/booking systems for performance tracking and forecasting