How Moving To The Middle East Has Developed My Career by Georgina Lees
An open-minded approach to her career has seen one building surveyor grow both professionally and personally by relocating to Dubai, learning from local insights and global expertise alike.
Like many others, I first assumed that careers in construction were limited to architecture, engineering, law or project management.
I was introduced to building surveying through my family's involvement in real estate. My father, who has always been involved in residential and commercial real estate, purchased an old textiles mill in Yorkshire and redeveloped it into a range of commercial units. During this process, we engaged building surveyors to assist with various landlord and tenant matters, which gave me my first insight into the profession.
Later, while studying for my A-levels, we were encouraged to complete a week of work experience. Wanting to explore a career that offered a balance between office and on-site work, I chose to gain experience with Michael Steel & Co, where I was able to experience the daily life of a surveyor first hand.
This exposure completely changed my perspective. I was drawn to the diversity of the role, with its balance of technical problem-solving, site inspections, report writing and client interaction. It offered both structure and variety, and I knew then that it was the right path for me.
Career prospects make the UAE attractive option.
The pandemic and lockdowns led to a period of significant reflection for many, myself included. After four years of studying building surveying at Sheffield Hallam University and one year in a placement, working at a multi-disciplinary construction consultancy, I was concerned about my career prospects and how COVID-19 would reshape the UK economy and construction industry.
So, when I started my job search, I was open-minded about options and came across a position in Dubai at a project development consultancy. I applied without hesitation and was offered the job to start almost immediately in September 2020. My employer managed the whole visa process, travel and medical, I just had to get my degree attested in the UK before moving.
I was fortunate enough to land on my feet with a great company and mentor, who taught me everything about building surveying in the region. I was taking a bold move into an unknown environment, but one that has enabled significant professional development and personal growth.
Since relocating, I have gained broad and valuable exposure to a range of projects, including airports, commercial and recreational portfolios, residential communities, industrial assets and major hospitality developments.
My role has involved providing core building surveying services across the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia and Egypt, including areas such as technical due diligence, reinstatement cost assessments, snagging surveys, reserve fund studies, defect analysis, landlord and tenant matters and planned preventative maintenance surveys.
Working in this dynamic and fast-evolving market has significantly enhanced my technical knowledge and adaptability. Now, as I navigate the APC building surveying pathway to RICS membership, my experience has strengthened my professional resilience and deepened my commitment to becoming chartered.
Virtual work experience.
RICS' head of diversity, equity and inclusion Sybil Taunton comments: 'RICS offers virtual work experience as a great opportunity for students aged 13+ to learn more about surveying careers and opportunities within the built and natural environment.
This work experience provides more than seven hours of informative and interactive content, and participants receive a certificate of completion. Start your surveying journey now by visiting the work experience platform.
Please also see RICS Recruit for information covering surveying jobs in land, construction and property worldwide.
Professionalism key to cracking male-dominated industry.
Working in the Middle East has also presented unique challenges, though, particularly as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Women make up approximately 10% of the total construction and infrastructure workforce in the Middle East, and most of these roles are administration with only 2% working on site; in the UK, women make up around 16% of the construction workforce.
Being one of the few women on site or in a technical discussion can feel overwhelming at times. It requires a higher degree of self-assurance and confidence. I've learned to view this not as a limitation, though, but as a motivator – to represent and encourage greater diversity in the profession and demonstrate the value women bring to technical roles.
Adapting to regional work cultures and standards has been another key part of my professional development. In the Middle East, projects often involve multinational teams, expectations of speedy progress, and a blend of local, British and American construction standards.
This demands a high level of cultural sensitivity, awareness, flexibility and communication. Building strong working relationships across different languages, cultures, and professional backgrounds has been crucial to the success of the projects I work on.
This experience has deepened my understanding of global practice and highlighted the importance of creating inclusive environments where diverse perspectives are valued.
It has also reinforced how vital it is to adapt RICS standards to suit regional contexts without compromising professional integrity. Collaborating within such diverse teams has not only strengthened my ability to communicate effectively but also underscored the role of inclusion and teamwork in delivering innovative and sustainable project outcomes.
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