Leigh assumed his role in 2021. Premier Inn Middle East, a JV between Emirates Group and the UK’s Whitbread built on owned properties, hotel management agreements, and leases, operates nine hotels across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. Its hotels achieved an 88% occupancy rate in 2025 and generated almost $90 million in revenue, marking a 10% YoY rise. In February 2026, Premier Inn signed an MoU with Equitativa to develop six to eight new Premier Inn hotels at a $545 million investment, delivering 3,500 keys across the UAE and Saudi Arabia while doubling its existing regional room inventory, beginning in Ras Al Khaimah.