Quantity Surveyor Resume Example for Jobs in Doha (Qatar)

Quantity Surveyor Job Market in Doha, Qatar

Doha's quantity surveying sector is experiencing sustained high demand driven by Qatar National Vision 2030 infrastructure developments, the post-FIFA World Cup 2022 legacy projects, and ongoing mega-developments like Lusail City and North Field gas expansion facilities. The construction industry represents one of Qatar's two largest economic sectors, creating continuous need for cost management professionals across commercial, residential, infrastructure, and industrial projects.

The scale and complexity of Doha's construction projects require sophisticated cost control and commercial management. Developments like the Doha Metro expansion, Qatar Rail's nationwide railway network, Hamad International Airport expansion, and Msheireb Downtown Doha regeneration involve multi-billion-riyal budgets with intricate contractor relationships, value engineering requirements, and stakeholder coordination. Quantity surveyors with strong commercial acumen and technical understanding command premium positions.

Qatar's construction procurement models favor international best practices—FIDIC contracts (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) are standard for infrastructure, NEC (New Engineering Contract) is used for some Qatar Rail projects, and bespoke forms incorporating elements of JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) appear in building projects. This diversity creates demand for quantity surveyors with broad contractual knowledge and ability to navigate multi-party commercial frameworks.

The market shows particular demand for quantity surveyors specializing in infrastructure (roads, rail, utilities), high-rise commercial construction (office towers, hotels, mixed-use), industrial/oil & gas facilities, and healthcare/education sectors. Government mega-projects through entities like Ashghal (Public Works Authority), Qatar Foundation, and QatarEnergy provide long-term employment stability with world-class project exposure.

Why Doha for Quantity Surveyors

Doha offers quantity surveyors exceptional tax-free compensation—Qatar has zero personal income tax, meaning your gross salary equals your take-home pay. This structure results in 30-45% higher net earnings compared to equivalent pre-tax salaries in the UK, Australia, or other major QS markets. Combined with competitive base salaries that already exceed most international markets, the financial opportunity is compelling for career acceleration and savings accumulation.

The project scale and complexity in Doha far exceeds opportunities in most global markets. Managing cost control for billion-dollar infrastructure programs, 80-story mixed-use towers, or industrial facilities for the world's largest LNG exporter provides career-defining experience that positions you as a senior commercial professional. International consultancies in Doha offer pathways to global mobility within their networks, with Doha experience highly valued for GCC and international assignments.

Professional development support is exceptional, with employers frequently funding RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) chartership for those pursuing APC (Assessment of Professional Competence), professional training courses, and international certifications. The multicultural project teams—with professionals from the UK, Australia, India, Egypt, South Africa, and beyond—provide networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities unavailable in homogeneous markets.

Qatar's emphasis on transparency and governance in public sector projects has elevated commercial management standards, creating an environment where rigorous cost control and ethical commercial practices are genuinely valued. Working with entities like Ashghal or Qatar Foundation exposes you to well-structured governance frameworks and professional project delivery methodologies.

Top Employers for Quantity Surveyors in Doha

Turner & Townsend Qatar is the leading international cost management consultancy in Qatar, employing quantity surveyors across infrastructure (Qatar Rail, highways), commercial (towers, mixed-use), and industrial (QatarEnergy facilities) projects. The firm offers structured career progression, RICS APC mentorship, and exposure to the full project lifecycle from feasibility through closeout. Turner & Townsend's global network provides international mobility opportunities, with Doha experience opening pathways to other GCC markets or global offices.

AECOM Qatar employs quantity surveyors within its project management and cost consultancy divisions, working on major infrastructure developments, government facilities, and master-planned communities. The scale of AECOM's Doha portfolio—often managing multiple concurrent mega-projects—provides diverse sector exposure and rapid professional development. The company's integration of cost management with engineering and project management services offers opportunities to develop broad commercial and technical understanding.

Hill International specializes in project management and construction claims consulting, employing quantity surveyors for cost control, contract administration, and dispute resolution. The firm's work on complex infrastructure and commercial projects provides unique exposure to contractual disputes, delay analysis, and claims preparation—specialized skills highly valued in the industry. Hill International's Doha office handles some of the region's most commercially complex projects.

Faithful+Gould (F+G), part of the SNC-Lavalin Group, employs quantity surveyors for cost management, value engineering, and commercial advisory services across building, infrastructure, and industrial sectors. The firm's emphasis on early-stage cost planning and value management provides experience in strategic cost advisory beyond traditional quantity surveying. F+G's international project benchmarking databases offer exposure to global cost data and estimating best practices.

Linesight (formerly Propel Consult) focuses on construction consultancy and cost management, employing quantity surveyors for residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. The firm's rapid growth in the GCC market creates advancement opportunities for high-performing surveyors. Linesight's technology-forward approach—emphasizing digital cost management tools and data analytics—provides exposure to emerging QS technologies and methodologies.

City-Specific Resume Tips for Doha

Quantity surveyor resumes for Doha positions must prominently feature your RICS membership status (MRICS or AssocRICS), as this professional accreditation is highly valued and sometimes required for senior positions. If pursuing chartership, mention your APC progress and expected completion timeline. RICS membership signals adherence to international professional standards crucial in Qatar's international construction market.

Emphasize experience with contract forms commonly used in Qatar—particularly FIDIC (Red, Yellow, and Silver Books), which dominates infrastructure and government projects. Also highlight familiarity with NEC3/NEC4 (used by Qatar Rail), bespoke government contract forms (Ashghal contracts), or adapted JCT forms for building projects. Specific clause knowledge (variations, extensions of time, compensation events) demonstrates contractual sophistication valued by Doha employers.

Showcase project scale and complexity using metrics that resonate with Qatar's mega-project market: total project values in QAR or USD (preferably both), size of cost management portfolios, number of concurrent projects, contractor package values, and monthly payment certificate volumes. Example: "Managed cost control for QAR 2.8B mixed-use development comprising three towers (total 195,000 m² GFA), administering 23 contractor packages valued at QAR 1.9B, processing monthly certificates averaging QAR 65M."

Highlight sector specializations relevant to Doha's market: infrastructure (roads, rail, utilities), high-rise construction, fit-out (particularly hospitality and commercial), MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), industrial/oil & gas facilities, or healthcare/education. Qatar's project pipeline has strong demand for infrastructure and commercial QS expertise, so relevant experience should be featured prominently in your professional summary.

Include software proficiency in tools used in Doha's market: CostX or Cubit (measurement software), Prolog or Aconex (document control, contract administration), Primavera P6 (programming knowledge for delay analysis), Excel (advanced functions for cost tracking), and AutoCAD (basic drawing review capability). BIM coordination experience (working from Revit models for 5D cost estimation) is increasingly valued.

Salary Expectations for Quantity Surveyors in Doha

Mid-level quantity surveyors (4-8 years post-qualification experience) in Doha typically earn between QAR 14,000 to QAR 26,000 per month as base salary, with actual compensation depending on RICS membership status, sector specialization, project complexity experience, and employer type. International consultancies (Turner & Townsend, AECOM, Hill) generally offer the higher end of this range, while local firms may offer mid-range salaries with comprehensive allowance packages.

These figures represent tax-free income—Qatar has no personal income tax—meaning your take-home pay equals your gross salary. This effectively increases real purchasing power by 30-40% compared to equivalent pre-tax salaries in the UK, Australia, or other major markets. Senior quantity surveyors and commercial managers (10+ years) can command QAR 30,000-45,000+ monthly, particularly those with expertise in large-scale infrastructure, claims/disputes, or commercial management of mega-projects.

Comprehensive benefits packages typically include furnished housing or housing allowance (QAR 8,000-14,000/month for mid-level QS professionals), annual return airfare to your home country for you and dependents, comprehensive health insurance, and end-of-service gratuity equivalent to one month's salary per year worked (21 days per year for first 5 years, 30 days per year thereafter). Some employers provide children's education allowances, company vehicles, or annual performance bonuses.

Quantity surveyors with in-demand specializations command premium salaries: infrastructure QS (roads, rail, utilities) (+15-20%), industrial/oil & gas cost management (+20-25%), claims and dispute resolution (+20-30%), contract management and commercial advisory (+15-20%), and RICS chartered status (+10-15%). Advanced software skills (5D BIM, advanced measurement software) and Arabic language proficiency can each add QAR 2,000-3,000 to monthly base salary.

Work Culture and Lifestyle in Doha

The Doha work week runs Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend, aligning with Islamic prayer schedules. Most consultancies operate 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM or 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though project deadlines and tender periods may require extended hours. During Ramadan (the Islamic holy month of fasting), work hours are typically reduced to 6 hours per day, usually 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a more relaxed pace respecting those fasting.

Quantity surveying culture in Doha is notably multicultural, with commercial teams including professionals from the UK, Australia, South Africa, India, Egypt, the Philippines, and other nations. English serves as the primary working language, though Arabic proficiency helps with contractor coordination and authority interactions. The collaborative environment exposes you to diverse commercial approaches—from UK contractual rigor to Australian pragmatism to Indian cost optimization strategies.

Client relationships often involve government entities and sovereign wealth-backed developers with high expectations for professionalism, transparency, and rigorous commercial controls. Projects require coordination with multiple approval authorities—Ashghal (Public Works Authority) for infrastructure, Qatar Rail for transit projects, MME (Ministry of Municipality & Environment) for building permits, and UPDA (Urban Planning & Development Authority) for planning compliance. Understanding the approval ecosystem and building relationships with authority representatives accelerates project delivery.

Doha offers exceptional quality of life with world-class healthcare, international schools (British, American, French curricula available), waterfront dining along the Corniche and Katara Cultural Village, family entertainment at numerous malls and theme parks, and cultural attractions including the Museum of Islamic Art and National Museum of Qatar. The low crime rate and modern infrastructure make Doha one of the safest cities globally for expatriate families.

Qatar Work Visa and NOC Requirements

Quantity surveyors entering Qatar require a work visa sponsored by their employer, which involves medical examinations (including chest X-ray and blood tests), degree attestation (verification of your quantity surveying/construction economics degree through Qatar embassy channels in your home country), and criminal background checks. Degree attestation requires authentication by your university, your country's foreign ministry, and the Qatar embassy—a process that can take 4-8 weeks. Your employer coordinates visa processing, but you must provide certified document copies.

Upon arrival, you'll receive a Qatar ID (biometric residence permit), which serves as your primary identification for banking, driving license application, apartment rental agreements, and accessing government e-services through the Hukoomi portal. The Qatar ID is mandatory for all residents and must be carried at all times. Processing involves biometric data collection (fingerprints and photograph) at a Metrash2 service center and typically takes 2-3 weeks.

A critical consideration for career mobility is the NOC (No Objection Certificate) requirement. If you wish to change employers while in Qatar, you generally need an NOC from your current sponsor unless you've completed your contract term or meet specific labor law exemptions (which are limited for professional roles). Recent reforms have eased some restrictions, but quantity surveyors should clarify NOC policies during contract negotiation.

Reputable consultancies typically provide NOCs to employees in good standing who have completed a reasonable tenure (often 2-3 years minimum). Some employment contracts specify conditions under which NOCs will be granted (contract completion, mutual agreement, etc.). Negotiate these terms during hiring—an unreasonable NOC restriction could limit your ability to capitalize on better opportunities during your time in Qatar, as leaving without an NOC requires exiting the country and may involve a temporary entry ban before returning under new sponsorship.

Understanding visa implications is important for career planning. If you receive a compelling job offer from another Doha employer but lack an NOC, your options are limited: negotiate an NOC from your current employer (sometimes possible with notice period fulfillment), complete your contract term to exit without NOC restrictions, or leave Qatar and potentially face a temporary entry ban. This makes the initial employer selection and contract negotiation particularly important for your Qatar career trajectory.

Doha-Optimized Quantity Surveyor Resume Template

Your resume header must clearly state your RICS membership status (MRICS, AssocRICS, or APC candidate with expected completion date), as this professional accreditation is highly valued in Qatar's international consultancy market. Include your Qatar residency status (Qatar resident with transferable visa / Available to relocate with employer sponsorship) and contact information with Qatar country code format (+974 XXXX XXXX) if already in-country.

Structure your professional summary to emphasize Qatar-relevant expertise: "RICS chartered quantity surveyor with 6 years managing cost control and contract administration for infrastructure and commercial projects in GCC markets, including extensive FIDIC contract experience, multi-package coordination on QAR 2B+ portfolios, and value engineering delivery achieving 12-18% cost optimization on MEP systems." This immediately signals familiarity with Doha's contractual frameworks and commercial priorities.

In your experience section, quantify achievements using metrics that resonate with Qatar's mega-project market: total project values in QAR and USD, portfolio size and concurrent project numbers, monthly payment certificate volumes, value engineering savings percentages, final account settlement timelines, and dispute resolution outcomes. Example: "Managed commercial administration for QAR 1.8B infrastructure program comprising 8 contractor packages, processing monthly certificates averaging QAR 45M, delivering final account settlements within 6 months of practical completion, achieving 94% first-time approval rate on variation quotations."

Create a dedicated Contract & Commercial Skills section highlighting Qatar-relevant expertise: FIDIC contract administration (specify which books—Red, Yellow, Silver), NEC3/NEC4 experience (compensation events, early warnings), extension of time analysis, variation management, interim and final payment procedures, delay and disruption claims assessment, dispute resolution (adjudication, arbitration), and value engineering methodologies. This demonstrates the commercial sophistication expected in Doha's complex projects.

Include Software & Technical Skills: CostX or Cubit for measurement, Prolog or Aconex for contract administration and document control, Primavera P6 for programming review and delay analysis, advanced Excel (pivot tables, macros, data analysis), AutoCAD for drawing review, and any BIM/5D experience (working from Revit models). Mention standard method of measurement familiarity (POMI, NRM2, CESMM4) and quantity surveying software used in previous roles.

Feature a Sector Experience section categorizing projects by type: Infrastructure (roads, rail, utilities), Commercial (office towers, mixed-use), Hospitality (hotels, serviced apartments), Industrial (warehouses, oil & gas facilities), Healthcare, Education, and Fit-out. For each sector, list 2-3 representative projects with values, your role, and key commercial outcomes. This helps Doha employers immediately assess your typological fit for their project pipeline.

Doha Quantity Surveyor Cover Letter Strategy

Open your cover letter by directly addressing why you're targeting Doha and the specific employer: "I am writing to express my strong interest in the Senior Quantity Surveyor position with Turner & Townsend Qatar, drawn by your reputation for delivering commercial excellence on the region's most complex infrastructure programs—particularly the Qatar Rail expansion, where rigorous cost control and FIDIC contractual expertise are paramount. My six years managing QAR 3B+ in infrastructure and commercial projects align closely with your project portfolio and commercial management approach."

In the body paragraph, connect your experience to Doha-specific commercial challenges: "My portfolio includes three FIDIC Yellow Book infrastructure projects where I managed contractor commercial relationships across complex multi-package programs, coordinating cost control for concurrent civil, MEP, and systems packages while maintaining rigorous change control processes. I've navigated extension of time assessments involving concurrent delay, prepared and defended variation account claims, and participated in dispute resolution through FIDIC DAB (Dispute Adjudication Board) procedures—experience directly transferable to Qatar's infrastructure delivery environment."

Demonstrate value-add capabilities beyond basic quantity surveying: "I believe modern quantity surveyors must be strategic commercial advisors, not merely measurement and payment processors. I've delivered value engineering workshops that achieved 15-20% MEP cost optimization without performance compromise, developed procurement strategies that accelerated contractor mobilization by 6 weeks, and implemented earned value management systems that provided executive leadership with predictive cost forecasting. I would welcome the opportunity to bring this proactive commercial approach to your Doha projects."

Address cultural fit and commercial philosophy: "I thrive in multicultural project environments—my previous teams included professionals from 12+ nationalities—and I understand the importance of balancing commercial firmness with relationship preservation in the GCC contractor market. I approach commercial management with transparency, documentation rigor, and fair dealing, recognizing that sustainable commercial outcomes require trust-based stakeholder relationships."

Close by addressing visa, RICS progression, and commitment: "I am prepared to relocate to Doha immediately upon visa processing and understand the NOC requirements. I am currently completing my RICS APC and would value your firm's mentorship support toward chartership [or: As an MRICS professional, I am committed to maintaining CPD and professional development]. I am seeking a minimum 3-year tenure to contribute meaningfully to your major project portfolio. I would be honored to discuss how my infrastructure cost management background can support Turner & Townsend's commercial leadership in Qatar's construction market." Request an interview, acknowledging time zone flexibility if applying from abroad.