Quantity Surveyor Salary: Compare Pay Across All 6 GCC Countries

Quantity Surveyor Salaries Across the GCC

The Gulf Cooperation Council is home to the most ambitious construction pipeline in human history, and Quantity Surveyors are at the commercial centre of it all. With an estimated USD 1.7 trillion in active and planned projects across the six member states, the demand for QS professionals who can manage costs, administer contracts, and negotiate final accounts has reached unprecedented levels. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 giga-projects—NEOM, The Line, Red Sea Global, Qiddiya, and Diriyah Gate—represent the largest concentration of construction spending on the planet. The UAE continues to build with Expo City Dubai, the Etihad Rail network, and Saadiyat Island cultural projects. Qatar’s post-FIFA World Cup 2022 legacy programme, Kuwait’s Silk City, Bahrain’s waterfront developments, and Oman’s Duqm Special Economic Zone all contribute to an insatiable appetite for cost management talent.

But not all GCC countries are created equal when it comes to compensation, benefits, career growth, and quality of life for Quantity Surveyors. Salary ranges, housing allowances, project complexity, RICS chartership premiums, and long-term residency options vary significantly from one country to the next. This comprehensive comparison will help you evaluate offers from all six GCC nations and determine which destination best aligns with your career trajectory and personal priorities.

The GCC Construction Boom: Market Context for QS Professionals

United Arab Emirates

The UAE remains one of the most mature construction markets in the GCC and the largest employer of Quantity Surveyors in the region. Dubai’s continuous pipeline of mega-projects, high-rise developments, and infrastructure expansion creates sustained demand for cost consultancy services. Major cost consultancies with significant UAE operations include Turner & Townsend, Faithful+Gould, Currie & Brown, Gleeds, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), Mace, and Linesight. Ongoing projects like Expo City Dubai, Dubai Creek Tower, the Etihad Rail network, and Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island cultural district featuring the Guggenheim and Zayed National Museum ensure sustained QS demand through the next decade. The UAE’s construction sector contributes approximately 8–9% of GDP, and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan guarantees long-term project flow.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the undisputed epicenter of GCC construction spending and the fastest-growing market for Quantity Surveyors. Vision 2030 has unleashed a pipeline of giga-projects that dwarfs anything attempted elsewhere. NEOM alone encompasses The Line, Trojena, Oxagon, and Sindalah. Beyond NEOM, Red Sea Global, Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, the Riyadh Metro, and King Salman International Airport are all in active construction phases. Turner & Townsend, Faithful+Gould, Currie & Brown, Hill International, Mace, and Linesight all maintain rapidly growing Saudi operations. The Public Investment Fund has committed over USD 3.5 trillion to infrastructure and development, creating the world’s largest concentration of QS employment opportunities.

Qatar

Qatar leveraged the 2022 FIFA World Cup to transform its infrastructure and continues to invest in its Qatar National Vision 2030 objectives. Active projects include the Sharq Crossing, the North Field Expansion, and continued build-out of Lusail City. Faithful+Gould, Hill International, AECOM, and Mott MacDonald maintain significant QS operations in Doha. Qatar’s Ashghal (Public Works Authority) is the dominant client for infrastructure QS services and applies Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS) standards to all public works.

Kuwait

Kuwait’s New Kuwait 2035 vision has prioritised infrastructure modernisation. The Kuwait International Airport Terminal 2, the Jaber Al-Ahmad Causeway, and the South Al-Mutlaa residential city represent the country’s ambitions. QS demand is driven by government infrastructure projects with the Ministry of Public Works and the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects as primary clients. Firms like Faithful+Gould and Turner & Townsend maintain Kuwait operations primarily serving government infrastructure programmes.

Bahrain

Bahrain maintains an active construction sector driven by the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. Major projects include the King Hamad Causeway, Bahrain Bay waterfront development, Diyar Al Muharraq island city, and the Bahrain International Airport modernisation. The country’s proximity to Saudi Arabia means many QS professionals based in Bahrain also service cross-border Saudi projects, creating a unique dual-market advantage.

Oman

Oman Vision 2040 is driving diversification through tourism, logistics, and industrial infrastructure. The Duqm Special Economic Zone, Muscat International Airport expansion, and Oman Rail network are the primary QS employment generators. Firms like Gleeds and RLB maintain Oman operations, while local cost consultancies serve a steady pipeline of government-backed infrastructure and hospitality projects.

Detailed Salary Comparison

Mid-level Quantity Surveyors with four to seven years of experience and MRICS qualification can expect the following monthly salary ranges across the GCC. All figures represent base salary before benefits and are in local currency.

• UAE: AED 10,000–20,000 per month (approximately USD 2,720–5,450)
• Saudi Arabia: SAR 9,000–18,000 per month (approximately USD 2,400–4,800)
• Qatar: QAR 10,000–20,000 per month (approximately USD 2,750–5,490)
• Kuwait: KWD 550–1,050 per month (approximately USD 1,790–3,420)
• Bahrain: BHD 450–850 per month (approximately USD 1,195–2,260)
• Oman: OMR 500–900 per month (approximately USD 1,300–2,340)

Senior Quantity Surveyors, Associate Directors, and Commercial Managers with eight or more years of experience and MRICS status typically earn 50–80% above these ranges, while graduate QS professionals with fewer than three years of experience generally earn 25–35% below. Chartered status (MRICS) commands a premium of 15–25% across all GCC markets, making it the single most impactful credential for salary maximisation. Specialisation in claims and dispute resolution, mega-project commercial management, or 5D BIM cost management adds further premiums of 10–20%.

Tax Considerations

All six GCC countries levy zero personal income tax, which gives Quantity Surveyors a dramatic advantage over counterparts in the United Kingdom (up to 45% income tax), Australia (up to 45%), South Africa (up to 45%), or Ireland (up to 40% plus USC). For a QS earning the equivalent of USD 60,000 per year, the tax savings alone represent USD 15,000–25,000 annually compared to working in a Western country with progressive income tax.

Saudi Arabia applies a 15% Value Added Tax on goods and services, while the UAE and Bahrain impose 5% VAT. Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman have either not implemented VAT or maintain very limited consumption taxes. These taxes apply only to purchases—not to employment income—so your full salary hits your bank account every month. For QS professionals from the UK, where a Quantity Surveyor earning GBP 55,000 in London takes home approximately GBP 39,500 after income tax and National Insurance, the GCC’s zero-tax environment represents a transformative financial advantage.

Benefits Comparison by Country

In the GCC construction industry, the benefits package is a core component of compensation. For Quantity Surveyors, benefits can add 40–60% on top of base salary, making it essential to evaluate the total package rather than headline numbers alone.

Housing Allowance

Housing is the single largest benefit for QS professionals in the GCC. In the UAE, housing allowances range from AED 4,000 to AED 10,000 per month depending on the employer and seniority. Major cost consultancies like Turner & Townsend and Faithful+Gould typically provide allowances of AED 5,000–8,000 for mid-level chartered surveyors. Saudi Arabia offers similar structures, with giga-project employers at NEOM and Red Sea Global providing fully furnished company accommodation in purpose-built residential villages at no cost—a benefit worth SAR 3,000–7,000 per month. Qatar is known for generous housing, with some consultancies providing company flats in The Pearl or Lusail for senior staff. Kuwait and Oman frequently provide furnished accommodation for site-based QS professionals, while Bahrain offers housing allowances proportional to salary, typically 25–35% of base pay.

Transport, Medical Insurance, and Flights

Transport allowances across the GCC range from AED 1,500–3,000 per month in the UAE to equivalent values in other countries. All GCC countries mandate employer-provided medical insurance, with top cost consultancies providing comprehensive family coverage including dental, optical, and worldwide emergency evacuation. Annual return flights to the home country are standard for employees and dependents, with senior QS professionals often receiving business class entitlements. End-of-service gratuity payments function as lump-sum severance across all GCC countries, typically calculated as 15–30 days of basic salary per year of service depending on the country and tenure.

Cost of Living Analysis

Salary figures are meaningless without context. Here is a realistic monthly expense breakdown for a single Quantity Surveyor living in each country’s primary city.

• Dubai/Abu Dhabi, UAE: USD 2,200–3,800 per month. A one-bedroom apartment in JLT, Business Bay, or Discovery Gardens costs USD 1,200–2,000.
• Riyadh/Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: USD 1,500–2,800 per month. Rent is 30–40% cheaper than Dubai. Engineers on NEOM or remote sites have expenses covered, enabling near-total savings.
• Doha, Qatar: USD 2,000–3,500 per month. Comparable to Abu Dhabi, with housing in The Pearl or Lusail costing USD 1,200–2,200.
• Kuwait City, Kuwait: USD 1,400–2,200 per month. Government-subsidised fuel and utilities keep costs lower.
• Manama, Bahrain: USD 1,000–1,800 per month. The most affordable GCC capital for expatriates.
• Muscat, Oman: USD 1,100–2,000 per month. Affordable housing, low fuel costs, and modest dining expenses.

When cost of living is factored against salary ranges, Saudi Arabia stands out for QS professionals on giga-project contracts with employer-provided housing—they can save 70–85% of their base salary. Bahrain offers the best savings ratio for surveyors paying their own expenses due to its combination of reasonable salaries and very low living costs.

RICS Chartership Premium Across the GCC

MRICS status is the single most impactful salary differentiator for Quantity Surveyors across all six GCC countries. The premium is consistent and significant:

• UAE: MRICS surveyors earn 15–25% more than non-chartered equivalents with comparable experience.
• Saudi Arabia: Premium of 15–20%, with MRICS increasingly expected for senior roles at giga-project employers.
• Qatar: Premium of 20–25%, with Faithful+Gould and Hill International often requiring MRICS for all professional-grade positions.
• Kuwait: Premium of 15–20%, primarily impacting roles at international cost consultancies.
• Bahrain: Premium of 10–15%, reflecting the smaller market size but still meaningful for career progression.
• Oman: Premium of 10–15%, with MRICS increasingly valued as the market matures.

For QS professionals who are not yet chartered, investing in the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) is the highest-return career investment available. The salary premium of MRICS typically recoups the time and financial cost of achieving chartership within the first 12–18 months of the higher salary band.

Visa, Work Permits, and Residency

Immigration processes vary across the GCC. The UAE processes employment visas within two to four weeks and offers the Golden Visa programme for high-earning professionals. Saudi Arabia has streamlined its visa process under Vision 2030 with expedited processing for giga-project staff. Qatar issues employment visas in two to five weeks. Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman maintain more traditional processes taking four to eight weeks.

Career Growth and Professional Development

The GCC offers significant career acceleration for Quantity Surveyors. Projects of a scale rarely found elsewhere provide opportunities to build portfolios that would take decades to assemble in the UK, Australia, or South Africa.

In the UAE, QS professionals benefit from the deepest professional ecosystem—RICS Middle East chapters, regular CPD events, QS conferences, and industry networking. Lateral moves between firms like Turner & Townsend, Faithful+Gould, and RLB are straightforward and often accompany meaningful salary increases.

Saudi Arabia offers the fastest career advancement for QS professionals willing to take on challenging giga-project roles. NEOM and Red Sea Global specifically seek surveyors capable of growing into commercial director and associate director positions. The Kingdom’s National Housing Company (NHC) and Royal Commission for Riyadh City also offer structured career-track positions.

Qatar suits surveyors seeking stability and depth, with opportunities to work through full project lifecycles at organisations like Ashghal. Kuwait and Oman offer steady growth with excellent work-life balance, while Bahrain provides niche opportunities with a focus on Saudi cross-border projects.

Which GCC Country Is Right for Your QS Career?

Your ideal destination depends on where you are in your career and what you prioritise. If you want the broadest range of cost consultancy employers and project diversity with a cosmopolitan lifestyle, the UAE delivers. If you want to work on the largest and most ambitious projects in history with maximum savings potential, Saudi Arabia is unmatched. If you prioritise the highest per-capita compensation with a premium quality of life, Qatar is compelling. If family benefits and government-sector stability matter most, Kuwait is worth serious consideration. If you want the best cost-of-living-to-salary ratio with a relaxed lifestyle, Bahrain and Oman should be on your shortlist.

The most important thing is to evaluate each offer holistically. Compare total compensation—base salary plus housing, transport, medical, education allowances, annual flights, and end-of-service gratuity. Subtract realistic living costs. Consider the project pipeline and whether the country offers the type of work that will advance your RICS-aligned career. Factor in visa terms, chartership support from employers (many GCC firms sponsor APC training), and your family’s needs. The GCC construction boom has years to run, and Quantity Surveyors who position themselves well today will reap both financial and professional rewards for decades to come.

Exclusive Country-by-Country Salary Benchmarks

Access detailed Quantity Surveyor salary data broken down by exact experience level (graduate, mid-level, senior, associate director, director), employer type (cost consultancy, PMC, contractor, developer), and specialisation (pre-contract, post-contract, claims, infrastructure, hospitality). Includes company-specific compensation data from Turner & Townsend, Faithful+Gould, Currie & Brown, Gleeds, RLB, Mace, Linesight, Hill International, and 15+ other major GCC employers. The full report also covers visa processing timelines, recommended recruitment agencies specialising in QS placements, interview preparation tips tailored to each country, and a personalised savings calculator.