Dubai-based Emaar Properties has appointed Abdulla Lahej as the company’s new group chief executive officer (CEO), replacing Low Ping.

Ping will remain with the company in her new role as an adviser to Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, focusing on Asian real estate development projects.  

Ping, a Singaporean, has been working with Emaar for 11 years, including stints as the executive director of finance and chief risk officer before being appointed as group CEO. She has now returned to Singapore for personal reasons, Emaar said.

Ping was part of the senior management team from the start of the company and was “instrumental in Emaar’s strategy formation and implementation,” the statement said.

“She also managed the international expansion of Emaar, with a focus on maintaining the company’s financial discipline and implementing appropriate risk management processes,” Emaar added.

Lahej joined Emaar as an assistant project manager in 2000 and has served as project manager, director – construction, senior director – construction and executive director – projects and development.

He led the project management of Downtown Dubai, including Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, The Dubai Fountain and Dubai Marina. “He will now be responsible for working with the senior management team in delivering company’s growth objectives,” the company said.

The developer is profiting from the recovery of Dubai’s construction market. It is moving forward with several major projects in the Downtown Dubai district, and in December, it signed a deal with state-owned Dubai World Central to develop an integrated urban centre and golf destination within the area.