Touching Down in Abu Dhabi

This is the most exciting place in the world where any construction professional could be at this point in time




Yas Island



Quantity Surveyor, guest blogger and Carlow native Declan Scully gives his first impressions of Abu Dhabi

Four months ago I was sitting in an office in Ireland worrying about what the future held. With the rate of decline in the Irish construction market, I felt I had little control over whether I would have a job at all in the months ahead. This evening I write this after returning from a day’s work at the Yas Island racetrack in Abu Dhabi, which will host the 2009 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

In April I came across an advert for a job in Abu Dhabi and applied to construction recruitment firm MCR Personnel. Within weeks my future employer, Higgs & Hill – a major international construction management firm –, interviewed me at a Dublin Airport hotel. When I accepted the job, Higgs & Hill and MCR Personnel handled visa, accommodation, flights and everything else for me. I had very little do apart from give my notice.

It’s just over two months now since I arrived in Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and I am working as a QS with Higgs & Hill.

I usually work 8AM to 7PM, five or six days a week – not dissimilar to home. However being part of what is happening over here is incredibly exciting. It really has to be seen to be believed.

In the workplace there is great respect from the employer and between work colleagues. I believe this is one of the reasons why things get done. And, believe me, things get done!

Our site, like many others, works 24/7. The pace is incredible. The Yas Racetrack is a 12-month build. At home I can only imagine that a similar project would take nearly five years to complete.

As for the lifestyle! We work hard! But that is not to say we don’t enjoy ourselves. People make you feel right at home here. This is probably a good thing because 90 per cent of the residents are non-nationals. This great cultural mix adds to the excitement of the place. And, of course, anything I might want at home is also easily available here.

To any anyone who is toying with the idea of working over here, all I can say is give it a go. I don’t think you will be disappointed! Abu Dhabi is the most exciting place in the world where any construction professional could be at this point in time.