Event Operations Manager, MENA

ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for an Event Operations Manager, MENA who is trustworthy, self-driven, motivated, and accountable to join our Global Experiential Marketing team. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, cross-functional and multicultural environment and is passionate about bringing major global conference and event brands to the new Dubai events hub and Expo venue.
You will work closely with the Director of Marketing EMEA and the Global Head of Event Sales to manage relationships with the event organizers we bring to the region, owning the deal process, sales logistics and account management that gets each event successfully set up and delivered in the Dubai Expo venue.
The right person for this role will be a strong relationship manager, negotiator, and project owner who can manage multiple organizer accounts at once, build a team from the ground up, and turn commercial agreements into flawless on-site delivery.
This role is in-office/on-site at the Dubai hub and will require regional and international travel of up to 25-30%.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the MENA event roadmap and budget, reporting progress to the VP of Global Experiential Marketing.
• Work closely with the Director of Marketing EMEA and the Global Head of Event Sales to identify and secure global conference and event brands to host at the Dubai Expo venue.
• Lead the deal process for incoming event organizers, from initial relationship-building through contract negotiation and account management.
• Manage sales logistics for organizer accounts, including venue availability, pricing, contracts and onboarding into the Expo venue.
• Serve as the primary account manager for event organizers hosted in Dubai, ensuring a smooth relationship from signing through event delivery.
• Manage and develop the Event Operations Coordinator, Dubai Events Coordinator and Dubai Events Community Manager.
• Own delivery of sponsorship packages and deliverables for the DFGC/the company events expo and other organizer-hosted events at the Dubai hub.
• Coordinate with organizers on space planning, production and event set-up requirements within the Expo venue.
• Set and manage event budgets, tracking spend by currency and by event.
• Oversee hotel and travel logistics for staff attending events, working with the venue and hotel sourcing agency.
• Maintain the event roadmap tracker and ensure the wider team has visibility of organizer and sponsor information, dates and links.
• Oversee creative briefs (Jira) for the in-house creative team and ensure timely turnaround of event assets.
• Lead post-event reporting, including organizer feedback, budget reconciliation and lessons learned.
• Represent the Dubai hub in cross-functional planning with BD, Product and Marketing teams.

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of professional experience in event marketing or event operations (agency, brand, technology, or related background).
• Validated experience in the video games, tech or software industry, ideally in a B2B event or partnerships capacity.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or related field.
• Proven track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder events from concept through on-site delivery.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Atlassian Suite, Jira, Asana, Monday.com, and Google Workspace.

PREFERRED

• Track record owning event budgets end-to-end, including sponsorship P&L.
• Proven experience managing and developing a team of events professionals.
• Experience negotiating complex vendor and venue contracts across multiple markets.
• Knowledge of the Dubai/MENA events market; Arabic language skills are beneficial.

BENEFITS
We are passionate about fostering a supportive environment for our team, so we prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our employees through a comprehensive Benefits Program. This includes unlimited Flexible Time Off, private health insurance and a personalized career roadmap for each employee. By investing in professional development through training and educational opportunities, we ensure that our team thrives both personally and professionally. Together, we’re not just building a business; we’re cultivating a community that values creativity, collaboration, and the transformative power of play.

EQUALITY OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
We are dedicated to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, genetics, disability, age, social background or other characteristics. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and transparent recruitment process.
For the Event Operations Manager, MENA, we will request a background check.

RELEVANCE TO JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The background check is relevant to this position because of the following role responsibilities:

• Handling sensitive financial information/managing budgets/accessing funds
• Accessing confidential company data
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements

RIGHTS UNDER THE UAE PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION LAW
Applicants are encouraged to inquire about their rights under the UAE Personal Data Protection Law. If you have questions regarding our hiring practices, please contact us directly.