Name: George Azar
Designation: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer- Sotheby’s International Realty (Dubai, UK & Saudi Arabia)
Company: Sotheby’s International Realty – Dubai, UK & Saudi Arabia
Category: Brokerage Powerhouses
From the world of high finance to the upper echelons of luxury real estate, George Azar has forged a reputation as one of the most dynamic forces in the global property market. As Chairman and CEO of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer- Sotheby’s International Realty (Dubai, UK & Saudi Arabia), Azar has not only transformed real estate franchises but has also elevated the prestige of the Sotheby’s name in three countries.
George’s story is one of precision, ambition, and reinvention. His professional journey began in finance, where he served as a Financial Consultant at Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner and Smith in the Middle East, expanding clientele and identifying unique investment avenues. In 1995, he moved to the Swiss Bank Corporation, and by 1998, he was appointed General Manager at Banque SCS Alliance Groupe in Beirut, where he refined marketing and business development strategies for the Middle East.
By 2001, George was leading from the heart of Dubai’s financial scene. Appointed Director of the Dubai Representative Office of Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), he quickly rose to Managing Director in 2004. His pioneering spirit led him to establish UBP Qatar as CEO in 2006, cementing his influence across the Gulf’s financial sector.
But George Azar’s most iconic move came in 2013 when he pivoted from banking to luxury real estate. His belief in opportunity and optimism laid the foundation for unprecedented growth. In 2015, he expanded into Saudi Arabia, acquiring the regional Sotheby’s franchise, and in 2023, he made a bold acquisition of UK Sotheby’s International Realty, igniting a full-scale transformation of the London market.
George’s background in finance has played a vital role in his real estate success. With an MBA in International Business Administration and Finance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the American College of Switzerland, he brings analytical rigour and strategic foresight to every move.
More than a CEO, George Azar is a builder of legacies, not only developing portfolios and premium properties but nurturing cultures of innovation, trust, and excellence. His hands-on leadership has helped position Dubai and the wider Middle East as vital players on the global real estate stage and he continues to lead with purpose and passion.
