Working In Dubai

A Profile On What To Expect When Working In Dubai

The following information may be of help in deciding whether you would be interested in a quantity surveying, engineering or project management job based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Currency

The currency in Dubai is UAE Dirhams.
The lastest exchange rates and currency conversions can be obtained by clicking here

Political/ Religious Climate

Most Emiratis are Sunni Muslims who follow the Maliki or Hanbali schools of Islamic law. The UAE is probably the most liberal country in the Gulf but it is still very conservative by Western standards.

Culture and Leisure

There is a wide range of leisure time activities to keep you occupied in Dubai from legendary shopping experiences, a variety of water sports including sailing, sand skiing, camel rides and desert safaris as well as tennis, golf and other sports which can be played in breath-taking locations.

A standard range of non-alcoholic drinks is widely available; alcohol is only sold in restaurants and bars attached to three-star hotels and above.

Thursday and Friday make up the Dubai weekend. Ramadan, which takes place at a different time each year on the Western calendar, is strictly adhered to throughout the UAE. This means that eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset is frowned upon.

Accommodation/Transport/Education

Dubai has high quality accommodation in good supply throughout the city. Most houses/apartments have excellent recreational facilities, satellite television or in-house video and covered car parking. Some residential complexes provide a daily maid service.

Dubai has good public transport but it is no problem to transfer your driving license without a test to a UAE driver's license. Most makes of vehicle are on sale at affordable prices and the city has a vibrant second-hand market.

There is a comprehensive network of government schools providing free primary and secondary education to UAE nationals. For expatriate families, there are 85 private foreign schools offering a high standard of education to the curriculum requirements of the UK , USA and a number of other countries. English is usually the main teaching language

Maxim Recruitment can not offer any type of financial, taxation or immigration/visa advice to current or intending jobseekers, however we are aware of some organisations that are specialists in offering expatriates such advice. 

Search Vacancy Database

Search through our extensive database of construction jobs in Dubai here: 

Search Construction Jobs in Dubai

Newsletter

Get construction industry news relating to the UK, Canada, Asia, the Middle East and other worldwide locations.

Subscribe

Testimonial

“After deciding to relocate to Toronto from the UK I was relieved to have Steve helping with my job search. From the beginning he was keen to understand my specific requirements and was great at managing expectations and remaining fully transparent throughout the whole process. I ended up with a role that was very well suited to what I was looking for and Steve has remained in contact since I started the new role to check in, which was very much appreciated. I would definitely recommend Steve to anyone looking for a new role.”

GS | Toronto Canada | July 2025

Send Us Your CV

Need help finding the ideal job? Want to save time when searching?

Let us find your next job.

Send Us Your CV

Register for Job Alerts

Maxim Insights

UK Quantity Surveyor Salary & Market Report 2025 | 2026

It's a candidate driven market, with 93% of employers reporting difficulties in recruiting qualified staff as the competition for experienced Quantity Surveyors (QS) remains fierce, driving remuneration packages upward to combat retention challenges.…

Read more »

Why Project Schedulers Are in High Demand Across Canada

Project Schedulers have become indispensable across Canada. Their ability to create clarity, manage timelines and keep cross-functional teams aligned is often the difference between a successful project and one that falls behind so it is important to understand the depth and impact of this role.…

Read more »

Construction Claims & Disputes | Qualifications, Memberships and Accreditation

Professionals working as claims consultants, quantum experts, delay analysts, or dispute resolution specialists, typically pursue a combination of academic qualifications, professional memberships, and industry-recognised accreditation.…

Read more »

Connecting with Canada’s Construction Elite | Lessons from a Week of Networking, Conferences & Seminars

My business development trip to Toronto was both productive and enjoyable. I forged new relationships, strengthened existing ones, and gained fresh insights into how the Canadian construction industry is evolving from P3 models to collaborative delivery approaches.…

Read more »

Choosing Between A Big and Small Consultancy as a Quantity Surveyor

Candidates for quantity surveyor jobs often ask if a large, big-name consultancy or a smaller, specialist firm is better. The answer depends on what you as a QS value most day-to-day and long-term. Here, we look at the pros and cons of big vs small client-side consultancies to help you decide your next move as a Quantity Surveyor.…

Read more »

Industry News

Government takes stake in housing JV

Homes England has formed a new housing development joint venture with Swiss Life Asset Managers and Capital & Centric.

Source: The Construction Index Last updated: 21 November, 08:34

Read more »

Green light £100m Digbeth regeneration scheme

Plans for regenerating a former ironworks in Digbeth with a £100m mixed-use scheme have been resolved to be approved by Birmingham City Council.

Source: The Construction Index Last updated: 21 November, 08:19

Read more »

Sizewell C to reuse 15,000 tonnes of recycled concrete from Sizewell A

More than 15,000 tonnes of second-hand concrete has been transported from Sizewell A to Sizewell C.

Source: The Construction Index Last updated: 21 November, 07:40

Read more »

Cement producer calls for mandatory EPDs

Environmental product declarations should be made mandatory on all UK construction projects, according to a Swiss cement company.

Source: The Construction Index Last updated: 21 November, 07:28

Read more »

Brick chimneys proposed for new Birmingham stadium

From the men behind the Garden Bridge and Peaky Blinders comes a characteristically distinctive take on the football stadium.

Source: The Construction Index Last updated: 21 November, 07:09

Read more »