Insights Why build your quantity surveying career in Saudi Arabia

There has never been a better time to build your quantity surveying career, and the Middle East is the place to start. Saudi Vision 2030 is enabling the built environment to grow at a rate not seen before, and the opportunities are endless. Saudi Arabia in particular is a hub of construction activity, with many new and exciting projects on the horizon.

With over fifty active years in the Middle East, Atkins, a member of the AtkinsRéalis Group, brings together an in-depth knowledge of the region and a unique ability to draw upon global resource and architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) expertise to deliver large and complex projects. Continue reading to find out why you should consider a quantity surveying career in Saudi Arabia.

Exciting and unique projects

Saudi Vision 2030 is enabling Saudi Arabia to use its investment power to create a more diverse and sustainable economy. The country is developing numerous large and complex schemes, also known as ‘giga projects’ which will boost the economy and create a better, more sustainable future for communities in the region. Examples of the giga projects include Qiddiya, NEOM and the Red Sea Project. The latter, a luxury tourism development, is planned to be 100% carbon neutral in operations and will rely solely on renewable energy.

Quantity surveyors typically estimate and control costs for construction projects. Whether it is a residential, leisure and entertainment development, commercial, or industrial project, clients rely on quantity surveyors to secure value for money. With the anticipated giga projects, there are an abundance of opportunities for quantity surveyors of all levels to use their knowledge and expertise, ensuring they are built with a focus on safety, quality, sustainability, and value for money.

Variation of tasks

Quantity surveying involves many different tasks. As a Senior Quantity Surveyor, for example, responsibilities are wide ranging and there will always be something interesting to keep you busy. In this role, you will oversee cost planning and estimating, value engineering, cash flow forecasts and tender services including compilation, analysis, negotiations, and recommendations.

Quantity surveyors are committed to technical integrity, innovation, and sustainability and ensure to factor safety and wellbeing in all that they do. Working within integrated teams, these professionals share their knowledge and experience by working collaboratively with clients and supply chain partners to develop and deliver solutions on various programmes and projects.

Career prospects

To be a quantity surveyor in Saudi Arabia, you can start as an intern and progress upwards or alternatively, with a bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying and start at graduate level. To be successful, you’ll have a good working knowledge of the construction and engineering industry and excellent numerical skills. However, we believe it’s never too late to change career or keep learning. We encourage our people to constantly upskill and reskill to progress their careers, helping colleagues become Members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), for example, if they have relevant experience.

At AtkinsRéalis , our business is global, and we actively support our colleagues in redeploying to new roles, markets, or destinations around the world, depending on where they want to take their career. Andrew, for example, upskills to stay sharp and is now thriving as a Project Manager based in Singapore after making a career change from quantity surveying. We offer career prospects in all construction and engineering disciplines, such as architecture, and we’re always looking for fresh talent to help us deliver high quality services to our varied portfolio of clients.

Browse our available opportunities today

With our broad range of expertise and our experience on multi-discipline, complex projects, Atkins is one of the strongest international construction consultancies in the region. We are looking for ambitious individuals to join our diverse teams and help us continue driving innovation and creating efficiencies to win and deliver work in Saudi Arabia.

If you’re interested in quantity surveying and you’re motivated to constantly learn, grow and upskill, we’d like to hear from you. Browse our quantity surveying jobs in the Middle East and apply today.