The real estate sector presents a captivating landscape, ripe with opportunities yet intricately intertwined with complexities. These intricacies spanning investments, developments and market dynamics, underscore the need for astute leadership to drive growth and ensure long-term viability.
Samir Derbas, with over 25 years of experience, adeptly navigates the convolutions of real estate finance and property development. As Chief Financial Officer of MADR Investment, a regional powerhouse in real estate investment and development, Samir embodies expertise in the field.
With a formidable combination of credentials including CMA, CIPA, MBA, and a Master’s in Real Estate & Property Management, Samir epitomizes excellence. His leadership prowess and financial acumen position him as a key player in guiding MADR Investment towards unprecedented success amidst the forward-stepping realm of real estate.
Samir’s track record speaks volumes. He has successfully managed feasibility studies, ERP implementation and IPO preparation further navigating mega-projects exceeding USD 1 billion towards fruition. His knack for implementing refined financial models and innovative solutions across the value chain has been instrumental in driving business growth and ensuring long-term viability.
What sets Samir apart is his fervent commitment to integrating ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles into business models. Passionate about fostering a culture of responsible investment, Samir believes in the power of superior financial management to empower informed decision-making and drive organizational development.
In a sector where every decision holds significant implications, Samir is leading with the baton of financial acumen and sustainability. Let’s know more!
Leading Financial Excellence
As the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Samir manages multiple roles to drive the company’s strategic goals forward. With years of experience in strategic financial management, Samir seamlessly integrates various roles to contribute effectively.
“I act more as a Strategic Partner and Advisor to the CEO and the board,” says Samir. His responsibilities include conducting financial modeling and forecasting to develop long-term financial plans aligned with strategic goals. These plans serve as a roadmap for resource allocation and decision-making. Samir’s keen analysis of costs identifies areas for optimization, ensuring competitiveness and strategic investment.
Samir plays a pivotal role in evaluating potential M&A opportunities and securing funding for growth initiatives, leveraging his financial expertise to make sound strategic decisions and secure necessary resources.
Communication, storytelling skills and business acumen are critical in today’s business environment. Samir excels in translating complex financial data into insights that guide strategic decision-making, fostering trust and alignment across all organizational levels.
Collaborating closely with departments like marketing, operations and sales, Samir ensures financial considerations are integrated into strategic decision-making fostering a collaborative environment and alignment with overall business goals.
While emphasizing the importance of strategic roles, Samir doesn’t overlook the conventional role of the CFO. He ensures financial statements’ accuracy and compliance with regulations, providing stakeholders with a clear picture of the company’s financial health which is crucial for building trust.
Identifying, assessing and mitigating financial risks are part of Samir’s responsibilities, safeguarding company resources and ensuring long-term financial stability. He meticulously oversees the implementation and maintenance of robust internal controls emphasizing the importance of risk management.
Samir’s extensive experience in financial management drives the company’s success by aligning financial decisions with strategic goals further focusing on sustainable growth, risk mitigation and maximizing shareholder value. With a holistic approach encompassing strategic partnership, financial stewardship and risk management, Samir leads the company towards continued prosperity and resilience in a dynamic business landscape.
Passion Meets Expertise
Enthusiastically immersed in the world of real estate, Samir views it more as a passion than just a career. “Real estate is my passion rather than a career industry,” he affirms. Motivated by the robust landscape, Samir pursued an MBA for a comprehensive business toolkit and a Master’s in Real Estate to fuse financial acumen with industry expertise. This distinctive blend enables him to adeptly navigate intricate financial landscapes, strategically analyze investments and promote sustainable development. In the world of real estate, Samir’s approach drives impactful financial leadership, shaping a resilient and thriving industry future.
Robust Risk Management Framework
In real estate, Samir adopts a proactive risk management approach. “I identify, assess and mitigate potential risks through diversification, scenario planning and hedging strategies,” he explains. This comprehensive method minimizes financial losses associated with large-scale projects.
For exceptionally large projects, Samir finds a phased development approach beneficial. He shares, “It allows us to secure funding for one phase at a time, reducing upfront financial risk and demonstrating project viability for subsequent phases.”
Crucially, assembling a highly experienced project management team with a proven track record is important. Their expertise in navigating complex projects and anticipating challenges helps mitigate risks and ensures project success.
Through these strategies, Samir establishes a robust risk management framework for large-scale real estate projects. This fosters financial stability, protects investor capital and enhances the likelihood of project success despite potential challenges.
Driving Growth and Sustainability
Samir has spearheaded the implementation of unique financial models tailored to projects of varying scales, from medium-sized endeavors to ambitious mega-projects akin to building a city within a city. “I have structured Sukuk (Islamic Bonds) to finance the acquisition of 5 real estate portfolios in France,” Samir notes, leveraging tax treaties to secure optimal Shariah-compliant cash dividends.
For mega projects in Qatar, Samir engineered syndicated loan structures while also tapping into off-plan sales for projects in Dubai and KSA to ensure maximum return on equity for shareholders. Moreover, as modern regulations evolve and capital markets flourish, Samir has facilitated project funding through CMA-regulated funds in Saudi Arabia spanning land acquisition, infrastructure development, residential, Commercial Real Estate (CRE), and hospitality superstructures.
Navigating a mega project in Saudi Arabia, Samir heeded the board’s directive to court international developers, fostering collaboration to mitigate risk and undertake larger, more complex ventures. “I have flown to the UK and Europe conducting due diligence for the most suitable international developer,” Samir explains, successfully establishing joint ventures with two European developers and one regional developer.
Furthermore, Samir has championed PropTech solutions, integrating property management software and construction management platforms to streamline processes, enhance communication and bolster transparency throughout project lifecycles. Additionally, real-time data dashboards provide stakeholders instant access to vital financial and operational metrics, facilitating data-driven decision-making and bolstering project control.
These innovative approaches coupled with robust financial management have fueled significant business growth and laid the groundwork for enduring sustainability in the volatile real estate landscape. Samir’s strategic foresight and adept navigation of financial intricacies underscore his pivotal role in shaping the future of real estate development and finance.
Financial Resilience
The real estate business landscape is rife with various risks—from construction delays to market fluctuations and unforeseen circumstances. “The CFO should be equipped with the tools and expertise to identify, assess and mitigate these risks,” emphasizes Samir.
Moreover, property development demands substantial capital underscoring the importance of superior financial management. This ensures efficient resource allocation across projects based on their potential returns and risks.
Real estate projects boast lengthy lifespans, necessitating robust financial models with long-term outlooks. “Superior financial management ensures financial resilience throughout the project lifecycle,” says Samir. Additionally, expert cash flow management is pivotal to maintain adequate funding across all project stages, considering significant upfront costs and phased returns.
Ultimately, superior financial management serves as the foundation of successful real estate investment and development. It enables informed decision-making, minimizes risk, drives strategic growth and cultivates a stable and competitive organization amid a dynamic environment. Samir’s expertise exemplifies how adept financial management can navigate the complexities of the real estate sector, ensuring sustained success and resilience.
Navigating Complexity
Samir emphasizes the pivotal role of technology particularly ERP systems in enhancing financial operations within the real estate sector. “ERPs can automate various tasks related to property management,” he explains, “saving time and reducing administrative costs.”
He highlights the importance of scalability and adaptability in ERP systems ensuring they can accommodate the growing needs of a real estate organization. This flexibility enables finance department staff to effectively manage the complexities associated with a diverse portfolio of properties.
Insider Perspectives
Samir emphasizes the importance of staying current with the latest market trends and regulations in the finance and real estate sectors. He explains “I actively engage in industry associations, attend conferences and follow industry publications to remain informed of the latest trends and regulations.”
He highlights his participation in various prominent events such as the Cityscape Conference panel, the Middle East CFO summit, the CFO leadership summit, the CFO StraTech conference, and IMA webinars. This proactive approach ensures he remains compliant and adaptable further providing insights into excellent strategic financial leadership in the landscape.
In recognition of his contributions to finance and real estate events and conferences, Samir was honored among the Top 50 CFOs in Saudi Arabia. His dedication to staying informed and engaged underscores his commitment to excellence in financial leadership.
Integrity, Analysis, Collaboration
Samir’s leadership is defined by ‘integrity, data-driven analysis and a collaborative spirit.’ He maintains a balance between financial discipline and strategic foresight, fostering innovation, embracing calculated risks and always considering the long-term impact of decisions. This approach ensures effective leadership that drives sustainable growth and fosters a resilient organization.
ESG Integration
“At the heart of my approach lies balancing financial objectives with sustainable practices like ESG integration,” Samir emphasizes. He underscores the importance of considering the long-term impact of decisions going beyond short-term profits.
Samir elaborates, “We incorporate sustainability factors into financial models and investment decisions.” For instance, while traditional models prioritize immediate returns, they consider the cost of redesigning a building for energy efficiency, even if it shows lower initial profitability. This investment can lead to long-term cost savings, attract environmentally conscious tenants and enhance brand reputation ultimately contributing to sustainable financial growth.
He notes that sustainable practices may involve upfront costs but emphasizes their role in mitigating long-term risks. Samir ensures careful evaluation of these tradeoffs to maintain financial resilience while fostering sustainable growth.
Investing in Leadership
“As a leader, I bridge departmental silos by promoting open communication, joint goal-setting and interdepartmental involvement in strategic planning,” Samir emphasizes. This fosters a collaborative spirit ensuring everyone aligns their efforts towards shared business objectives.
He adds, “I advocate for the creation of cross-functional project teams where finance professionals collaborate with representatives from other departments.” This approach fosters a collaborative environment and leverages diverse expertise for successful project execution.
For emerging finance professionals aiming to excel in real estate finance and property development, Samir offers valuable advice. “Build a strong foundation in finance, gain industry knowledge and leverage technology,” he advises. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of active networking, strong communication skills and continuous learning to thrive in this dynamic and rewarding field.
Samir stresses that success in leadership requires a combination of hard work, dedication and a continuous pursuit of knowledge and experience. This ethos serves as a guiding principle for future leaders in the real estate finance domain.
