Abdulla Lahej, group chief executive officer of Emaar Properties, has stepped down from his role, the Dubai-based real estate giant has announced.

In a bourse statement on April 10, 2016, Emaar said that Abdulla Lahej was no longer group chief executive officer, though it did not specify the reasons.

The developer added that Lahej’s responsibilities are currently being handled by Amit Jain, group chief operating officer.

Lahej joined Emaar Properties in 2000 as an assistant project manager and played a central role in the construction and project management of almost all Emaar developments in Dubai. He led the development of Downtown Dubai, including high-profile projects such as Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and The Dubai Fountain.

Lahej was appointed group CEO in January 2014. He was responsible for the overall management of Emaar’s group of companies and reported directly to chairman Mohamed Alabbar.

The news coincides with an announcement by Emaar that it would be building a $1bn Dubai tower taller than the Burj Khalifa – currently the tallest manmade structure in the world. Dubbed simply ‘The Tower’, the project is set to be the centrepiece of Dubai Creek Harbour.