Ahmed Raafat, Associate Director of Procurement and Supply Chain at A.R.M. Holding and his team, tell us how the private diversified investment group, with an evolving portfolio across real estate, cultural initiatives and community development, has redefined the role of procurement within the organisation. A function that is now a strategic partner to the business, driving measurable efficiencies and value…
In 2019, procurement & supply chain at A.R.M. Holding was a back-office function. Today, it’s a vital partner to the business, driving significant savings and shaping the future of real estate in the UAE. Under the leadership of Associate Director of Procurement and Supply Chain, Ahmed Raafat, the team has built a future-ready procurement function grounded in innovation, sustainability and resilience. This shift has redefined procurement at A.R.M. Holding as a strategic enabler, delivering AED 87.4 million in savings, slashing cycle times by 44% – becoming the first UAE real estate developer to achieve the CIPS Ethics Kitemark for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025). It’s been quite a journey.
Redefining procurement’s purpose
When Ahmed Raafat joined A.R.M. Holding in 2019, the UAE developer was undergoing a strategic reinvention. The company’s new leadership sought to reposition procurement – not as a back-office cost controller, but as a value-creating partner embedded in every business decision.
“Our foremost objective was to reposition procurement as a strategic partner to the business,” says Raafat. “We aimed to transcend the traditional transactional role and instead focus on delivering value, enhancing transparency, and embedding governance across all procurement activities.”
That mandate set clear priorities: centralised governance, robust vendor evaluation frameworks that integrated ESG and innovation metrics, and end-to-end digital workflows. The results speak for themselves. AED 87.4 million in savings, a 44% reduction in cycle times, and a 35% rise in local vendor engagement.
Procurement as a catalyst for innovation
Under Raafat’s leadership, procurement has evolved into a collaborative, innovation-driven function. “Teamwork in procurement means shared responsibility and transparent collaboration,” explains Krishna Prasad, Procurement Manager. “When we pool expertise across functions and communicate openly with suppliers and stakeholders, we de-risk decisions and deliver better value together than any one person could alone.”