Quantity surveyors are one of the most consistently hired professional roles in Gulf construction. Contractors, consultants and developers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar all need people who can measure, price and protect money on a project. A QS CV is read by commercial managers who know the job well, so vague lines do not work. This guide shows you what to write.
Pre-contract or post-contract? Say which
The first thing a commercial manager wants to know is which side of the job you do:
- Pre-contract QS: quantity take-off, BOQ preparation, estimating, tender analysis
- Post-contract QS: interim valuations, variations, subcontractor payments, final accounts, claims support
Many Gulf adverts ask for both. Put your strength first in your title, for example: "Quantity Surveyor — Post-Contract, Fit-out & Buildings".
The measurement standards Gulf employers look for
- POMI (Principles of Measurement International) — very widely used for building BOQs in the Gulf
- CESMM — used for civil engineering works
- NRM — increasingly referenced on some projects
- FIDIC contracts — the standard form behind many Gulf projects; knowing payment, variation and claim clauses is valuable
List only the standards you have actually used, and say on which project.
The right CV format
- 2 pages for experienced surveyors, 1 page for graduates.
- Single column, plain text, PDF.
- Header: name, title (pre/post-contract), WhatsApp with country code, email, nationality, visa status, and RICS status if any (e.g. "MRICS" or "APC candidate").
- Order: Profile → Core skills → Project experience → Software → Education & memberships → Personal details.
Profile example
Post-contract Quantity Surveyor with 7 years in building and fit-out projects, 4 of them in Dubai. Prepares monthly valuations, evaluates variations under FIDIC and closes subcontractor final accounts. Experienced in POMI measurement and CostX take-off. APC candidate with RICS.
Core skills
- Measurement: quantity take-off, BOQ preparation, POMI, CESMM
- Cost: estimating, rate analysis, cost reports, cash flow forecasts
- Contracts: FIDIC 1999/2017, variations, payment applications, final accounts, claims support
- Subcontracts: tender comparison, subcontract packages, payment certificates
- Software: CostX, Candy, Primavera (for cost-loaded programmes), AutoCAD (for measuring), MS Excel
Real bullet points you can adapt
Quantity Surveyor — G+15 residential building (Dubai)
- Prepared 18 monthly interim valuations certified by the consultant without major cuts
- Evaluated 45 variations under FIDIC and recovered AED 1.2 million in approved additional cost
- Managed payment certificates for 12 subcontractors and closed all final accounts within 3 months of handover
- Produced monthly cost-versus-budget reports for the commercial manager
Assistant QS — infrastructure works (Sri Lanka)
- Took off quantities for drainage and road works using CESMM and prepared BOQ sections
- Measured completed work on site for monthly contractor billing
- Compared three subcontractor quotations and recommended the best-value offer
Use real figures you can explain in the interview. Interviewers will ask about them.
Gulf-specific points that strengthen a QS CV
- GCC experience is often requested (many adverts ask for 2–3 years minimum). If you have it, mention the country in every role line.
- RICS membership or an active APC is respected across the Gulf; put it in the header.
- Engineering background: many Gulf QS roles are filled by civil engineers. If your degree is in civil engineering, make that clear.
- Contract type matters: lump-sum, re-measurable and design-and-build projects are handled differently — say which you have worked on.
Sample QS CV layout (copy this structure)
- Name Surname
- Quantity Surveyor — Post-Contract | Buildings & Fit-out
- +971 5X XXX XXXX (WhatsApp) | email | Dubai, UAE
- Nationality: Indian | Visa: Employment, 30 days notice | APC candidate (RICS)
- Profile
- 3 lines: years, project types, pre/post-contract, standards, software.
- Core Skills
- POMI | FIDIC | Valuations | Variations | Final accounts | CostX | Excel
- Project Experience
- Company — Title — Dates — Country
- Project: type, size or value
- 3–5 bullets with numbers
- Software
- CostX, Candy, AutoCAD, MS Excel (advanced)
- Education & Memberships
- B.E. Civil / B.Sc. Quantity Surveying — University — Year
- RICS status
- Personal Details
- Date of birth, passport validity, driving licence, languages
Keep each project block short. A commercial manager should understand your level in under a minute.
Mistakes to avoid
- Writing "responsible for billing" without saying how many valuations or what value
- Not separating pre-contract and post-contract experience
- Listing CostX or Candy without one line on how you used them
- Leaving RICS status at the end of page two
- Claiming final accounts or claims you only observed — commercial managers test this quickly
Interview: what to prepare
- "Walk me through how you value a variation."
- "How do you handle a subcontractor dispute over measured quantities?"
- "What is the difference between a provisional sum and a prime cost sum?"
- A take-off test from a drawing is common for junior roles — practise measuring blockwork, concrete and finishes.
Salary context (UAE)
Reported UAE salaries for quantity surveyors range widely by experience and employer type. Job adverts for surveyors with 3–4 years of UAE experience have shown around AED 5,000–10,000 a month, while senior quantity surveyor averages are reported around AED 15,500 a month, going up to about AED 26,500 depending on industry and profile. Consultancy and developer roles tend to pay more.
Sources: GulfTalent senior quantity surveyor salaries in UAE, GulfTalent quantity surveyor engineer salaries and a live senior QS listing on GulfTalent. Reported ranges, not offers. Last checked: October 2026.
FAQ
Is RICS compulsory for QS jobs in Dubai?
No, but it is a strong advantage, especially for consultancy and senior roles. An APC in progress is worth mentioning.
Can a civil engineer apply for QS jobs in the Gulf?
Yes — many Gulf surveyors are civil engineers. Show your measurement, billing and contract experience clearly.
Should I list every project?
List the last 10–12 years. For each project give the type, value or size if allowed, and your role.
Do Gulf employers test QS candidates?
Often yes, especially take-off and rate-analysis tests for junior and mid-level roles.
Make your QS CV in a clean, Gulf-ready format with RICS status, nationality and visa details in the right place. Build your CV now →