5.5k for year 1 is pretty standard from what I've seen, I started around there too. But then, keep in mind there is no "standard". Salaries vary A LOT.

Entry level rates vary a lot by studio size but 5-6k is a common starting range for design assistants in Dubai.

honestly just happy you're getting paid on time in this industry lmaooo

wow we're all just gonna casually drop our salaries publicly now 😂 respect

Depends heavily on the studio size tbh. Small studios like OP's tend to cap lower regardless of experience because the overheads are different from bigger firms.

I was at 12k with 8 years exp so if anything you're probably okay but keep your eyes open for opportunities. Worth shopping around before your next review.

14k after 8 years is honestly fair, but it really depends on your level of responsibilities and skills.

Fixed monthly is actually more common than people think in flooring/installation companies, commission is more typical for sales roles not project management ones.

13k feels reasonable though, regardless of pay structure. But its worth asking around at other flooring companies.

Yeah contracting/fit-out side QS pay is generally lower than consultancy, thats a pretty well known gap in this market unfortunately.

Sounds about average from what I've seen, consultancy side would likely be 20k+ for similar experience.

the boq life is rough man, feel this post deeply lol

3 years, 9k, small studio JLT

6 years, 12.5k, mid-size firm

1 year, 5.5k, still learning the ropes lol

9 years, 16k, mostly hospitality and F&B projects

Hello,
Its very hard to answer your question. It depends so much on what kind of projects you can run, their scope and complexity, your skills and experience. The word "senior" alone isn't really enough to tell where you should be at in terms of salary. But, as a ball park figure a senior PM should be looking at a minimum of 25K per month (considering over a decade of experience and ability to handle projects of medium complexity). Again the range varies but this is what I've heard and experienced being in the field. Good luck to you!

Hey,
Its coming down to what kind of projects you work on and the company you work for. My advice always for PMs, don't undersell yourself and take care of your health. It can be a stressful job and takes its toll over the years.

Send a formal letter of demand via registered mail, give them 7 days to respond. If nothing, file in the Dubai Courts Small Claims Tribunal. it handles disputes up to AED 500k and the process is fairly straightforward. Keep every sign-off document you have.

14k is on the low side for 8 years experience. Most I know at that level are on 18–22k in mid-size firms. I'd push back and ask for at least 17-18k minimum before accepting.

Hello :)
To me, I think you're okay. Definitely request higher than what they are offering, as HR usually give you a lower offer and expect you to negotiate. But at 14K I would think isn't so bad especially if there are other perks. But note this all depends a lot on your degree, background, skills, portfolio and how well all that aligns with the firm. If that all aligns nicely that you might have some room to get more. Good luck!

8 months is not long enough to judge honestly. Instagram leads in Dubai typically come after 12–18 months of consistent content. Location tags on specific communities (Palm, Arabian Ranches, etc.) have worked better for me than general Dubai tags.

Congrats! I made a similar move, retail fitout to retail design management a while back. Biggest shift is you go from hands on design to overseeing the bigger picture, timelines, budgets,brand consistency across stores. your fitout experience actually sets you up well for this.

Good luck !

Haha welcome to the other side. moving from fitout into design mgmt means less time in the details and more time managing people, priorities, and stakeholders. store openings don't move so pressure is real, but running a small 3d team already means you know how to keep a team moving under deadlines. you'll be fine tbh

Not great to be honest, I've also been looking for a few months. Hoping also to get some advice here if anyone can support.

Keep looking there are many opportunities. Make sure you are well-presented on LinkedIn and that you have a portfolio of projects to show. Use your previous contacts, tell everyone that you are looking. Many jobs are advertised and come thru references. Its a bit harder than before but not impossible, good luck

Yes, you're underpaid. 3 years experience in Dubai running 4–5 live projects should be 10–13k depending on firm size. Start looking.

Hi there. Look it's impossible to say because it all depends on where you work, what kind of projects they are and the value involved, what your skills are. In general though, you're not really underpaid. 3 years is still very young and you're considered a junior. I'd say definitely keep asking for higher but also try to get more responsibility so you can back up your request. Unfortunately workload isn't always a measure that companies use (sadly) it's more about the level of responsibility and scope. Try to be involved in decision making, join important meetings, and ask to take on new projects. im in HR and used to work for design firms so hopefully Im giving you good advice :)) good luck

8.5k plus bonus and transport is just about decent for coordinator level tbh, but you can still get higher if you increase your responsibilities.

Hotel renovation work usually pays a bit more than pure residential due to tighter timelines, so you might be slightly underpaid if it's mostly hotel projects.

Transport allowance being included changes the math a lot, don't just compare base salary numbers with people who don't get that.

11k for 6 yrs managing multiple sites is low ngl. I was at 14k with similar experience 2 years ago and that was considered mid-range even then.

Interviews are the best place to actually find this out honestly, recruiters will tell you real numbers once they see your CV.

Haha just wanted to comment on the previous response… "recruiters will tell you real numbers?"…. errr, no they won't. It's their job to get you hired for as low as possible, just saying…

Make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Some "PM" titles here are basically project coordinators with a fancier title lol. But I would say you are on the low side and definitely should try bringing up your pay.

Honestly I think you are being paid very well. I know a colleague from a previous company makes around 15K mark and is very well experienced. But of course, if you feel you can earn more then start looking.

FF&E really is underdiscussed here, most threads are about PM/ID/architect salaries. Good to see this posted.

I moved from residential ID to hospitality FF&E and pay was noticeably better, so this checks out from my experience.

Yes yes yes. You are very underpaid brother. Start looking.

Small company life... its always "we'll increase it once we land the next big project" 😩

Depends what "running operations" includes exactly, is it just admin/scheduling or is it running actual projects on site and managing clients. If its only internal work, then its low but not so much. But if youre managing projects and clients then you are very underpaid.

Hello ! Starting out early in your career can be confusing. Previous replies here are spot on, prioritize learning over salary in the early years. But make sure you also set a baseline for yourself, understand what you will and won't accept. alculate your expenses, transport, and establish what you need to feel rewarded, and what work conditions work for you. Then negotiate higher pay (always). There is usually a little room for you to earn higher than their offer. Best of luck to you.

5k is a reasonable ask in Dubai for a fresh grad. Realistic range is 4.5–6k depending on the firm size. Don't undersell yourself but also don't price yourself out of good learning environments early on.

I graduated from AUS a few years ago and started at 4.8k in a small studio. Within 2 years I was on 9k with real project experience. At this stage chase the best learning environment, not the highest starting number.