An in-house estimator in the UAE costs more than the monthly salary once you add gratuity, leave, insurance, visa costs and the time it takes to hire. For fit-out, MEP and villa renovation contractors pricing a few small or mid-size tenders a month, the Hydrock Support Tender Desk starts at AED 1,500 per tender, or AED 5,500 a month for up to 4 tenders, with tender pricing delivered in 5 to 7 business days from complete drawings.
This article helps you work out your own number. It lists every cost an in-house estimator carries, gives a simple way to compare it with an outsourced tender desk, and explains when each option makes sense.
The salary is only the starting point
Most owners compare a monthly fee with a monthly salary. That comparison is incomplete. An employee carries fixed costs under UAE law and practical costs that never appear on the payslip.
Here are the costs to add to the salary when you work out the true yearly figure.
Gratuity. Under UAE Labour Law, an expatriate employee who completes one year of service earns 21 days of basic salary for each of the first five years. After five years it rises to 30 days for each further year. Gratuity is based on the last basic salary only, not on allowances. As a rule of thumb, 21 days a year is about 5.8% of annual basic salary.
Annual leave. Employees who complete one year of service are entitled to 30 days of fully paid annual leave. Tenders do not stop when your estimator travels. Someone else has to cover those weeks, or the tenders are missed.
Sick leave. The law allows up to 90 days of sick leave a year, with the first 15 days on full pay. You pay for the days, and the work still has to be done.
Health insurance. Health insurance for private sector employees is already required in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. From 1 January 2025 it was extended to Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The employer buys the policy before the residency permit is issued or renewed.
Visa and permits. Add work permit, residency visa, Emirates ID, medical test and renewal costs. Use your own PRO figures for these.
Allowances. Housing, transport and any annual air ticket in the contract.
Tools and workspace. A desk, a computer that can run CAD and estimating software, software licences and a phone line.
Hiring time. Advertising, interviews and notice periods often take weeks. During that time tenders are either priced by the owner at night or declined.
Management time. Someone still checks the rates, the exclusions and the final tender summary. That time has a cost too.
A simple way to compare
You do not need market salary surveys for this. You need two numbers from your own records.
- Your full yearly cost for one estimator. Add salary, allowances, gratuity, insurance, visa costs, tools and leave cover.
- The number of tenders that estimator actually priced and submitted in the last 12 months.
Divide the first number by the second. That is your real cost per tender.
Now compare it with an outsourced tender desk. The Tender Desk Retainer is AED 5,500 a month for up to 4 small or mid-size tenders. That works out at about AED 1,375 per tender, or AED 66,000 a year for up to 48 tenders, excluding VAT. Pay per tender work is AED 1,500 for a small fit-out tender up to AED 1M and AED 2,000 to 3,500 for a mid-size tender between AED 1M and AED 5M.
A quick break even test: divide your full yearly estimator cost by AED 1,375. If the answer is higher than the number of tenders your estimator priced last year, outsourcing costs you less per tender.
When an in-house estimator makes more sense
An outsourced desk is not the right answer for every contractor. Keep the role in-house if most of these apply.
- You price tenders every week, all year, with no quiet months.
- Most of your tenders are above AED 5M and need constant site visits and client meetings.
- The same person also runs daily site measurement, subcontractor packages and valuations.
- You are building a commercial team and want to train someone for the long term.
When an outsourced tender desk makes more sense
Outsourcing usually fits better when your workload moves up and down.
- Tender volume changes from month to month.
- Most tenders are small or mid-size fit-out, MEP, joinery or villa renovation work.
- The owner or project manager is pricing tenders at night after site work.
- Your estimator is on leave or has resigned and tenders are still arriving.
- You decline tenders because no one has time to price them.
You can also use both. An in-house estimator handles the core work and an outsourced desk takes the overflow during peak weeks and leave periods.
Which Hydrock Support option fits
| Option | Price (excl. VAT) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tender Desk, pay per tender | From AED 1,500 per tender | Occasional tenders, no monthly commitment |
| Tender Desk Retainer | AED 5,500 a month | Up to 4 small or mid-size tenders a month, with priority turnaround and a UAE-based account manager |
| Commercial Desk | AED 9,000 a month | Up to 3 tenders a month plus up to 3 live projects, including monthly valuations, IPAs and variation pricing |
| Defined assignments | From AED 500 | A single trade take-off, a small BOQ, pricing an existing BOQ or minor CAD amendments |
Tender Desk work covers the quantity take-off and priced BOQ, supplier quotes for key items, preliminaries and the tender summary. You receive a tender ready for submission. For one-off pieces of work, see our fixed fee services. For the wider service, see estimation and quantity surveying.
How it works
- Send your drawings and tender documents.
- We sign an NDA before files are shared, unless you tell us it is not needed.
- We confirm the tender size, fee and delivery date within 24 hours of receiving the drawings.
- Pay per tender work starts on a 50% advance, with the balance on delivery. Monthly packages are paid in advance.
- You receive the priced tender. Tender pricing takes 5 to 7 business days from complete drawings.
Frequently asked questions
What does an estimator cost a contractor in the UAE beyond salary?
Add gratuity, paid annual leave, sick leave, health insurance, visa and permit costs, allowances, software, equipment and hiring time. Gratuity alone is 21 days of basic salary for each of the first five years of service.
How much does an outsourced tender desk cost?
Hydrock Support charges AED 1,500 for a small fit-out tender up to AED 1M and AED 2,000 to 3,500 for a mid-size tender between AED 1M and AED 5M. The Tender Desk Retainer is AED 5,500 a month for up to 4 tenders. All prices exclude VAT.
How long does outsourced tender pricing take?
Tender pricing takes 5 to 7 business days from complete drawings. A BOQ takes 3 to 5 business days and a quantity take-off takes 2 to 4 business days. We confirm the exact delivery date within 24 hours of receiving drawings.
Can I cancel the monthly retainer?
Yes. Monthly packages run month to month. Cancel by email at least 7 days before the next billing date. Unused tenders do not carry over to the next month.
Are my drawings kept confidential?
Yes. We sign an NDA on every tender before files are shared, unless you tell us it is not needed.
Can I use an outsourced desk alongside my own estimator?
Yes. You can keep one estimator in-house and send overflow tenders to us during busy weeks or leave periods. Extra tenders on a retainer are charged at pay per tender rates.
Get a fee for your next tender
Send your drawings and we will confirm the tender size, fee and delivery date within 24 hours. Contact us or message us on WhatsApp at +971 55 492 9782. You can also call +971 4 431 5558.
Hydrock Support is the trading name of Hydrock Project Management Services L.L.C S.O.C, Unit 103, Eros Building, Street 3, Al Quoz 3, Dubai.
