Expatriate salary levels in property fall 30%

Salary levels for expatriates working in the property and construction sectors have fallen by up to 30 per cent in the past eight months across the GCC, according to data from APG Global, a recruitment agency based in Australia.

The decline comes after a four-year hiring boom when above-market rates were paid by firms urgently needing to fill positions for construction projects.

Employers are making the most of the pool of applicants for fewer positions after staff numbers were trimmed in the two sectors. A development director who could once negotiate Dh70,000 (US$19,058) a month would today be offered between Dh50,000 and Dh55,000.