Furniture supplier, 13 years, 10k base + 2.5% commission

Wallpaper/textiles, 5 years, 9k fixed, no commission, kind of wish mine had one after seeing this thread

Tile sales, 6 years, 8k base + 3% commission

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, 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 :)

Hello friend

I think you're in the average range right now although that doesn't mean you can't increase your pay. I've spent a lot of years in this field and have a fairly good idea of salaries for procurement. Best advice I could give is try to cover more responsibilities in your current role such as finance or project managment, as procurement differs a lot from one company to another and its good to be prepared for were your next role lands you.

Best of luck

4 years, small ID studio, 9k

7 years, mid-size residential projects, 14k

2 years, small studio doing mostly apartments, 6.5k, feels low reading these other numbers ngl

10 years, mix of villa and small commercial, 16k

12 yrs experience making 20K plus benefits

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.

10k base plus commission is roughly where I am too, but commission structure makes a huge difference. Percentage based on margin vs volume changes everything.

I'm very curious how others structure commission too, mine is tiered based on monthly targets which works out better in busy months.

Anything above 8k base plus reasonable commission is decent in this space from what I've seen across a few suppliers.

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.

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!

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...

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.

17k after 10 years at a consultancy sounds about right honestly, maybe even slightly above depending on the consultancy size.

This is such a valid question because architecture salaries here are all over the place compared to somewhere like the UK or even Saudi.

I hit 17k at year 8 so you might want to renegotiate, but I was also doing a lot of client facing work which tends to pay more.

following this thread, curious myself lol

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.

Hi, i am managing procurement for 1 company since 6 years, and willing to work with you with low margin or freelance

Hey, absolutely you should not do it. Respond professionally and explain that you don't have the time available on your hands to do a proper concept. And that you prefer to do so once hired.
Offer to come in again and discuss your skills, portfolio and even bounce some design ideas for a current project they have. But don't take any work home for free.
Been there many times, I know its hard. Good luck to you!!

Very hard to say without further info, it depends on your skills and the type of projects you worked on. But my guess is no, it doesnt sound fair. Its on the low side. You should aim somewhere near 10 to 12K.
Good luck!!

Hi Karim, I am new to the UAE, but I have extensive experience working in different projects across India and the UK and I also possess a Masters Degree in Interior Architecture from the UK

Oh, then you should definitely get better pay. But look, it depends on the company. Some companies understand the value of a masters degree and others don't. But the idea is, you have the potential to make a better salary so you should start applying at better companies. That said, it does take a lot of time and patience
Wish u best of luck

Hey Acash, so sorry to hear you are having trouble. I also agree with kareem you should be better paid.
It's not unusual for furniture factories to pay low salaries. Mostly, furniture and joinery factories are not big on salaries. You'll have a better chance if you can find work with consultants, fit-out companies or design firms. best of luck

It can vary and isn't always consistent, but it seems the rate you got is pretty average. I started at around 2% a few years ago and my rate increased with experience. with you all the best

Seems like a reasonable rate, I would say go with it. Best of luck!!

Complete Renovation & Fit-Out Solutions in the UAE With experience dating back to 2006 and a team of 25 skilled professionals, we provide comprehensive interior design, renovation, and fit-out services for villas, apartments, offices, and commercial spaces across the UAE. We handle interior design and technical drawings, NOC requirements, approvals and permits, as well as project supervision. Our scope of work includes interior finishing, ceilings and partitions, painting, electrical and plum

Please Contact on +971564737727

0503132031

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

Dear Hiring Team, I am writing to express my interest in Lead Interior Designer / Design Manager opportunities within your organization. With 25+ years of experience across the UAE and Lebanon, I have delivered luxury residential, hospitality, commercial and government fit-out projects, including Carlton Downtown Hotel and Dubai Courts, with project values exceeding AED 40M. I have led teams of up to 20 professionals, combining high-end conceptual design and hand-sketching with strong technica

Firstly just keep in mind that salaries vary a lot and it really depends on many things like the type and profile of projects you work on, your exp, skills, and responsibilities, the company size, and other factors.
But to be honest things haven't been very positive lately. Some of the smaller design firms/fit-out contractors just don't have the budget even if you deserve it. That said, from what I've heard about salaries of other designers, what you are asking seems to be reasonable and fair.
Hope this helps

Not greedy at all honestly, 24k is actually on the lower end for someone with 15 yrs in high end villa/hotel work, in my opinion. I know designers with less exprience pulling that. Ask for it confidently and Good luck!

I am interested

Sounds fair to me

Yes possible

Hello yes Ive been wondering the same thing. My health has sufered over last few years and I dont get enough sleep. I am PM for a big architecture firm, very well known. There are too many projects and many overnight shifts. maybe its just the company I work for? would appreciate if any more experienced PMs can advice

19k at 12 years sounds reasonable for contracting side. Consultancy or developer side procurement tends to pay a bit more from what I've seen.

Curious what others say too, feels like procurement doesn't get talked about enough on here compared to PM/design roles.

I'm at 19k with 10 years but I also handle vendor negotiations, contracts, and disputes, not just sourcing, so scope matters a lot here. Wish you best of luck.