Alvarez & Marsal has expanded its Real Estate, Travel, Hospitality and Leisure practice across the Middle East. The expansion comes as large destination and mixed-use developments in the region move into delivery and operational phases.

The consultancy has operated in the Middle East for over 20 years. It maintains its regional headquarters in Riyadh alongside offices in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Operating as part of the wider EMEA platform, the practice advises clients on corporate strategy, investment planning, transaction advisory and portfolio performance.

The Middle East team includes senior directors and managing directors with backgrounds in development, investment and operations. Maya Whiteley specialises in asset concept development and destination activation across Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Saqib Saeed, former Managing Director at Dubai Holding, led direct real estate and hospitality investments covering M&A and land bank activations. Dalia Alderzi, a former Big Four partner and Meraas executive, brings end-to-end destination development experience. Rohit Dhawan advises sovereign wealth funds and governments on portfolio strategies, while Fabian Modena focuses on GCC capital allocation across hospitality, urban real estate and wellness sectors.

Research conducted by the firm alongside Google forecasts global international travel spend to reach approximately $6 trillion by 2050. The Middle East and Africa are projected to experience strong volume-driven growth during this period.

Colie Spink, A&M’s Middle East Regional Leader, said: “Our Middle East business has been built around senior leaders who understand the realities of operating at scale. They have helped shape and deliver many of the region’s landmark developments and transactions, bringing first-hand experience of the decisions, challenges and execution required to take major programs from ambition to delivery. Expanding our RTHL practice brings that experience together within one integrated platform, combining global capability with local delivery.”

Yousef Wahbeh, Managing Director and Co-Head of RTHL for EMEA, leads the practice. He possesses over 25 years of industry experience.

Yousef Wahbeh commented: “Clients across the region increasingly want seasoned industry practitioners turned advisors, with first-hand experience shaping, developing and delivering major projects. Our team brings deep industry and regional experience across the development lifecycle – from strategy, investment and transactions through to development, activation and operations. This combination of deep regional experience and A&M’s borderless global network gives clients access to the right expertise, lessons learned and leading practices from around the world, helping them unlock value and deliver at pace.”