RELATED — UAE salary guide 2022: how much should you be earning?
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
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
AIDA%20RETURNS
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20six-cylinder%20turbo%20(BMW%20B58)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20340hp%20at%206%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500Nm%20from%201%2C600-4%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20ZF%208-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100kph%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.2sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20267kph%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh462%2C189%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWarranty%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030-month%2F48%2C000k%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
