Hello there. For that budget in Business Bay get quotes from 4–5 contractors and ask for references from similar sized apartments specifically. The ones that finish on time tend to be smaller operations with the owner actively on site. Avoid anyone who can't give you at least 3 recent client contacts. good luck

Hi, that's an interesting question. But I feel impossible to answer without more context... all depends on the project and budget. Sometimes we even not put any percentage if we need the work :)

15% is too low for the work involved in procurement. I charge 20% as standard, written into the contract. High-end clients sometimes negotiate to 18% but I rarely go below that. Hope that helps you.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Starting as a freelancer can be very hard, I totally sympathize. But in my view the bigger issue isn't the rate, it's whether you're charging for revisions. That's where most designers quietly lose money. Make sure your contract is clear on what's included. Wish you best of luck on your freelancer journey!

Hi! 150 per sqm for design only is on the low end, especially for villa work. I charge 200–250 depending on complexity. Don't go below 175 for anything under 400 sqm. Hope that helps.

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!

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.

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.

We outsourced procurement 18 months ago. It freed up significant capacity but you share the margin. We now do a hybrid, keep procurement for key statement pieces where the client relationship matters, outsource the volume items. Worth testing on one project first.

I left a firm like that 2 years ago. First 3 month in the new place I kept waiting for the crunch that never came. Ask in interviews specifically what the average hours are during a live fit-out. Good luck and take care.

It's the industry but not all of the industry. Firms that normalise 60+ hour weeks are usually fit-out companies with back-to-back handover deadlines and poor planning. It's a management problem dressed up as culture...

Hello fellow freelancer! I'm on IFZA, been on it 2 years. Total annual cost including license, visa and medical is around AED 18k. SHAMS is slightly cheaper but I've heard renewals can be slower. Both should work fine for residential ID and FF&E work.