About the Role: Responsibilities, Skills, and Requirements
Introduction
Ever wondered what it takes to keep a major construction project on budget without cutting corners on quality? We're on the lookout for two sharp-minded Quantity Surveyors — one focused on electrical systems, one on mechanical — to join a growing MEP contracting team in Dubai. These aren't back-office number-crunching roles; you'll be right in the thick of things, shaping cost decisions that keep projects moving. If you know your way around MEP works and take pride in getting the numbers right the first time, keep reading.
About the Company
We're an established MEP contracting outfit with a solid footprint across Dubai's commercial and residential build scene. The team has grown steadily over the past few years — not so fast that people get lost in the shuffle, but enough that there's real momentum here. Friday site walk-throughs are a bit of a tradition, and the QS desk sits close enough to the engineers that questions get answered in minutes, not email chains.
What you'll notice first is how little bureaucracy gets in the way. If you spot a costing issue, you flag it, and people listen. That's the culture — practical, direct, and genuinely collaborative.
What You'll Be Doing
- Prepare accurate quantity take-offs and calculations from drawings, specs, and site conditions — the kind of numbers the whole project team relies on.
- Work closely with engineers and project managers to keep cost estimates aligned with what's actually happening on site.
- Review and assess subcontractor and supplier quotations, flagging anything that doesn't add up.
- Support the preparation of bills of quantities and cost reports for ongoing MEP packages.
- Track variations and help document them properly, so nothing slips through the cracks at handover.
- Visit sites when needed to verify quantities and cross-check progress against the paperwork.
What You'll Bring
Must-haves:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (for the Electrical QS role) or Mechanical Engineering (for the Mechanical QS role).
- At least two years of hands-on QS experience, ideally within Dubai or the wider UAE market.
- Solid working knowledge of electrical or mechanical systems and MEP contracting practices.
- Proven ability to produce precise, defensible quantity take-offs.
- Comfort reading and interpreting technical drawings and specifications.
Nice-to-haves:
- Familiarity with UAE construction standards and local supplier networks.
- Experience with cost-estimating software or ERP systems.
- A track record on mid-to-large MEP projects.
Not sure you tick every box? We'd still love to hear from you — plenty of great hires come from candidates who almost didn't apply.
Why You'll Love Working Here
- Competitive salary, reviewed honestly and on time.
- Medical insurance and standard UAE benefits, no fine print surprises.
- Real exposure to a range of MEP projects — you won't be stuck on one package for years.
- A team that values clear communication over politics.
- Room to grow: several of our senior QSs started in exactly this role.
We're not going to promise bean bags and rooftop yoga. What we can promise is steady work, fair treatment, and colleagues who actually want you to succeed. If that sounds like your kind of place, you'll fit right in.
Common Interview Questions and Tips
To help you prepare and feel confident, here are some questions you might encounter during the interview process for this role.
- Walk me through how you'd approach a quantity take-off for a mid-size electrical package — say, LV distribution and lighting for a commercial tower. What do you check first, and where do mistakes usually creep in?
- Tell me about a time you caught a discrepancy between a subcontractor's quotation and the actual scope on site. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
- How do you keep your cost estimates aligned with site reality when the drawings and what's actually installed start to drift apart?
- Describe your experience with variation tracking. What's your process for documenting a variation so it holds up at final account?
- Which cost-estimating software or ERP systems have you worked with, and how comfortable are you picking up a new one quickly?
- Imagine a project manager pushes back on one of your cost figures in a coordination meeting. How do you defend your numbers — or, alternatively, how do you know when to concede?
- What's your read on the UAE supplier and subcontractor market for MEP works? Where do you typically go to benchmark rates?
- Tell me about a project where you had to work closely with engineers to resolve a costing issue. What was your role in getting it sorted?
- How do you prioritise when you've got three packages due for cost reports and a site visit request lands on the same morning?
- What draws you to a smaller, close-knit MEP team over a large corporate structure?
- How do you prefer to communicate with engineers and site teams — and what do you do when information you need just isn't coming through?
- Tell me about a mistake you made in a take-off or estimate. How did you catch it, and what changed in how you work afterwards?