UAE salaries: which property and construction jobs are in demand and how much do they pay?

Hiring activity is robust in the UAE’s property and construction industries as they continue to recover from Covid-19 headwinds on the back of economic support measures and government initiatives that include an expansion of the golden visa programme and new visas for retirees and digital nomads.

Most in-demand construction, property and engineering professionals are those with industry qualifications and several years of like-for-like experience, according to recruitment consultancy Cooper Fitch.

Employers are seeking candidates with a proven track record of success in delivering projects and sales on time and to budget, Cooper Fitch says in its 2022 Salary Guide.

With large-scale property and infrastructure construction projects being dominant, the real estate and construction sectors are hiring but the types of roles are changing

Deepa Sud,
chief executive of Plum Jobs

“With large-scale property and infrastructure construction projects being dominant, the real estate and construction sectors are hiring but the types of roles are changing,” says Deepa Sud, chief executive of Plum Jobs, a Dubai executive search consultancy.

“As developers and operators endeavour to maximise returns on shareholders’ investments, we are hiring for more commercial roles that are value-driven and collaborative. These require different skills than the traditional building and project management expertise that were once much sought-after.”

The UAE property market, which softened due to a three-year oil price slump that began in 2014, oversupply concerns and the pandemic, has turned a page and is recovering.

UAE property prices are set to continue rising in 2022, driven by supportive economic reforms and an accelerated vaccination programme that has helped to hasten a rebound from the coronavirus-induced slowdown last year.

Economic support measures and government initiatives — such as residency permits for retirees and remote workers in addition to the expansion of the 10-year golden visa programme — have also helped to improve market sentiment.

Residential property prices in Dubai rose 21 per cent in the first 10 months of 2021 to Dh1,235 per square foot in October, from Dh1,021 per square foot in January, according to a recent Knight Frank study.

“We have started 2022 with a greater focus on leadership and management who can drive change to adopt modern methods of construction and integrated technologies to optimise time and costs,” Ms Sud says.

“In addition, because of the increased risks due to the disruption of global supply chains and volatile financial markets, there is increased attention being paid to addressing them. We are placing more senior managers who have demonstrated capabilities in managing such risks.”

What positions are in demand?

Positions in demand in the UAE’s property and construction sectors include project director, project manager, real estate asset management and leasing and facilities management, according to recruitment consultancy Michael Page’s 2022 Salary Guide.

“With the launching and ongoing development of many construction and real estate projects, demand for design/pre-construction professionals is significant,” says Aaron Fletcher, business manager responsible for construction, property and engineering at recruitment consultancy Hays.

“Roles highest in demand include urban designers, master planners, architectural designers and engineering designers with proven project experience.”

With organisations expanding their business development strategy to include neighbouring countries to diversify risk of a thinning project pipeline locally, there has been an increase in demand for experienced project delivery staff to support such projects, Michael Page says.

Cost planning and pre-construction commercial managers are also in demand as more projects are entering the site delivery stage, according to the consultancy.

With real estate companies looking to enhance their portfolio and focus on maintenance and tenant satisfaction to retain occupancy, property management and real estate asset managers are in demand, it says.

What skills are employers looking for?

Although construction and real estate lacked the technological innovation of other industries, this is now rapidly changing, according to Mr Fletcher.

“Candidates who have experience working on digitalised projects have become a very desirable asset to employers in the region as they embrace more technological innovations,” Mr Fletcher says.

Candidates who have experience working on digitalised projects have become a very desirable asset to employers in the region as they embrace more technological innovations

Aaron Fletcher,
business manager responsible for construction, property and engineering at Hays

Building information management (BIM) is widely used across the Middle East to improve project visibility and help to reduce the risk of project overspend.

“We are seeing knowledge of BIM to be an increasingly common prerequisite for design or pre-construction roles. In addition, candidates that have experience of delivering projects using innovative technology, such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, blockchain, drones and cloud computing, are more in demand,” Mr Fletcher says.

Modular manufacturing and off-site construction are significant areas that are changing the way the construction industry is operating, according to Ms Sud.

Technology such as wearables, drones, crane cameras, 3D printing and laser scanning are pushing the boundaries of construction, she says.

There is also increasing demand for professionals with PropTech expertise, according to Hays. This includes knowledge of apps and web portals that help companies to better engage with and enhance the lifestyles of their communities.

“I expect hiring activity to pick up considerably in the year ahead. Projects which stalled due to the pandemic are now moving ahead and progressing for completion,” says Zahra Clark, Mena region head at Dubai-based Tiger Recruitment.

“At the same time, we have seen a large number of new projects announced recently across both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which is creating demand for talent.”

Are salaries expected to rise in the property and construction sectors?

Hays expects the vast majority of salaries in the property and construction industries to either remain the same or increase annually in 2022.

Fifty-four per cent of construction, property and engineering professionals expect their salary to increase in 2022 while 45 per cent believe it will remain the same and only 1 per cent expect a decrease, according to Hays.

Those confident about a pay rise in 2022 expect an increase of 6 per cent to 10 per cent, Hays says in its GCC Salary Guide 2022.

Relocation, housing and education allowances are generally only offered to senior, director-level roles and above in the UAE’s property and construction sectors, Mr Fletcher says.

I expect hiring activity to pick up considerably in the year ahead. Projects which stalled due to the pandemic are now moving ahead and progressing for completion

Zahra Clark,
Mena region head at Tiger Recruitment

What other benefits can employees expect?

Organisations must work on making their benefits, incentives and remuneration attractive enough to retain top talent, Michael Page says in its 2022 Salary Guide.

“Be open to meet the local market salary benchmarks, as well as find other ways to ensure employees feel valued and will be loyal,” the consultancy says.

Companies need to offer more competitive remuneration packages to attract and retain a good calibre of candidates, Ms Sud says.

“We are advising our clients to structure senior level remuneration packages based on project deliverables. These bonuses are more lucrative than the standard benefits that have traditionally been offered such as housing, transport and schooling allowances,” she says.

There is a growing demand for flexible working in the property and construction sectors, according to Tiger Recruitment’s Ms Clark.

Flexible working has emerged as one of the top benefits employees are looking for, second only to salary, she says. Employers are responding to the demand by offering perks such as flexible working days.

“Some are even considering introducing the UAE federal government’s 4.5-day work week. Wellness allowances are also becoming more popular,” Ms Clark says.

What are the highest paid jobs in the property and construction sector?

Project director — Dh70,000 (per month)
Project manager — Dh45,000
Development director — Dh70,000
Facilities director — Dh62,000
Facilities manager — Dh23,000
Leasing manager — Dh35,000
Asset manager — Dh44,000
Contracting general manager — Dh67,000
Contracting project director — Dh70,000
Contracting project manager — Dh40,000
Quantity surveyor — Dh20,000
Civil engineer — Dh18,000
Architect — Dh25,000
Chief development officer — Dh124,000-Dh247,000
Director of development — Dh52,000-Dh88,000
Director of design — Dh52,000-Dh88,000
Director of planning — Dh52,000-Dh88,000
Design manager — Dh26,000-Dh46,000
Planning manager — Dh26,000-Dh41,000
Chief projects officer — Dh124,000-Dh237,000
Executive director of project delivery — Dh72,000-Dh103,000
Director of construction — Dh52,000-Dh72,000
Executive director of sales — Dh77,000-Dh113,000
Executive director of asset management — Dh77,000-Dh103,000
Director of asset management — Dh62,000-Dh82,000
Director of sales — Dh57,000-Dh77,000
Director of leasing — Dh46,000-Dh72,000

Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

HAJJAN

%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

Scores

Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
Arsenal 1-0 Huddersfield Town
Burnley 1-0 Brighton
Manchester United 4-1 Fulham
West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace

Saturday fixtures:
Chelsea v Manchester City, 9.30pm (UAE)
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur, 11.45pm (UAE)

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

MATCH INFO

New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)

England 155 (19.5 ovs)

New Zealand win by 21 runs

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

Story of 2017-18 so far and schedule to come

Roll of Honour

Who has won what so far in the West Asia rugby season?

Western Clubs Champions League

Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners: Dubai Exiles

Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership

Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons

Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup

Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Runners up: Dubai Exiles

Fixtures

Friday

West Asia Cup final

5pm, Bahrain (6pm UAE time), Bahrain v Dubai Exiles

West Asia Trophy final

3pm, The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Sports City Eagles

Friday, April 13

UAE Premiership final

5pm, Al Ain, Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Whiile you're here

Damien McElroy: Anti-science attitudes in America are proving lethal

Editorial: What makes the UAE such a good place to test vaccines?

Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science

The five stages of early child’s play

From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:

1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.

2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.

3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.

4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.

5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.